Aspirin treatment of migraine attacks: plasma drug level data

Plasma aspirin and salicylate levels were measured at intervals over a two hour period during migraine attacks in 10 subjects given 900 mg oral aspirin alone, in 10 subjects given 900 mg oral aspirin plus 10 mg oral metoclopramide, and in 10 subjects given 900 mg oral aspirin plus an intramuscular injection of 10 mg metoclopramide. Higher peak aspirin and salicylate levels occurred in patients given aspirin with metoclopramide. Aspirin tended to appear in plasma earlier in patients given aspirin with oral metoclopramide than in patients given aspirin alone, or aspirin with intramuscular metoclopramide. Patients given aspirin with oral metoclopramide tended to obtain better early pain relief than the other two treatment groups, though by one hour from dosage use of injected metoclopramide was also associated with better pain relief.