Metoclopramide versus Prochlorperazine in acute migraine.
Date First Published:
March 5, 2013
Last Updated:
July 25, 2013
Report by:
Pierre Léger , PGY 4, Emergency Medicine Resident (Laval University, Quebec, Canada )
Search checked by:
Gilles Lortie, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
Three-Part Question:
In [adult patients attending the emergency department with acute migraine] is [metoclopramide better than prochlorperazine] at [relieving headache pain]?
Clinical Scenario:
A 37-year-old woman presents at the emergency department with a left-sided headache. She has a past history positive for migraines and she describes the current episode as identical to her migraines. Your resident wants to prescribe prochlorperazine to treat her migraine, but you usually prescribe metoclopramide for patients with acute migraine. You wonder which of these dopamine antagonists is better for the treatment of a patient with acute migraine.
Search Strategy:
No BestBETs or relevant critical appraisals were found on this topic at http://www.bestbets.org. No ongoing trials on this topic were registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
Medline using NHS Evidence 24/04/2013:
Medline using NHS Evidence 24/04/2013:
Search Details:
[exp Migraine disorders/AND (exp metoclopramide/OR maxolon.ti,ab) AND exp prochlorperazine] six papers only the three listed were relevant and included.
Embase using NHS Evidence 24/04/2013: [exp Migraine/AND AND (exp metoclopramide/OR maxolon.ti,ab) AND exp prochlorperazine] Limit to (Clinical Queries Therapy best balance of sensitivity and specificity) and (Languages English); 81 results. No further relevant papers.
The Cochrane Library Issue 3 2013: MeSH descriptor: (Metoclopramide) explode all trees AND MeSH descriptor: (Prochlorperazine) explode all trees 26 records no new relevancies.
Embase using NHS Evidence 24/04/2013: [exp Migraine/AND AND (exp metoclopramide/OR maxolon.ti,ab) AND exp prochlorperazine] Limit to (Clinical Queries Therapy best balance of sensitivity and specificity) and (Languages English); 81 results. No further relevant papers.
The Cochrane Library Issue 3 2013: MeSH descriptor: (Metoclopramide) explode all trees AND MeSH descriptor: (Prochlorperazine) explode all trees 26 records no new relevancies.
Outcome:
3 papers as presented in the table
Relevant Paper(s):
| Study Title | Patient Group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A randomized controlled trial of prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide for treatment of acute migraine Friedman BW, Esses D, Solorzano C, et al. 2008 USA | 77 Adult patients with migraine receiving 20 mg metoclopramide IV (38) or 10 mg prochlorperazine IV (39) both accompanied by 25 mg diphenhydramine IV | Prospective double-blind RCT | Reduction in pain at 60 min (scale 0 to 10) | 5.5 vs 5.2 (NSD) | Small number of patients Not the common use dose of metoclopramide Prophylaxic use of diphenhydramine |
| Reduction in pain at 120 min (scale 0–10) | 5.9 vs 6.4 (NSD) | ||||
| Randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide for emergency department treatment of migraine headache. Coppola M, Yealy DM, Leibold RA. 1995 USA | 70 Adult patients with migraine receiving either 10 mg of metoclopramide IV (24) or 10 mg prochloperazine IV (22) or a placebo (24). | Prospective double-blind RCT | Pain score at 30 min (10 cm scale). Clinical success (defined as patient satisfaction and either a decrease of 50% or more in pain or an absolute pain of 2.5 cm or less) | 3.9 vs 1.1 vs 6.1 48% vs 82% vs 29% (p<0.05) | Outcome measured at 30 minutes |
| Intramuscular prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide as single-agent therapy for the treatment of acute migraine headache. Jones J, Pack S, Chun E. 1996 USA | 86 Patients between 16 and 60 years old with migraine receiving 10 mg metoclopramide IM (n=28) vs 10 mg IM prochloperazine (28) vs placebo (29). | Prospective double-blind RCT | Reduction in median pain score at 60 min. Rescue narcotics required | 34% vs 67% vs 16% (p<0.01) 79% vs 57% vs 86% (p=0.3) | Non consecutive patients |
Author Commentary:
The first two randomised controlled trials1 2 show a significantly better outcome with prochlorperazine 10 mg versus metoclopramide 10 mg The third study3 shows no significant difference between prochlorperazine and a higher dose of metoclopramide.
Bottom Line:
In adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute migraine prochlorperazine 10 mg is better than metoclopramide 10 mg at relieving headache.
References:
- Friedman BW, Esses D, Solorzano C, et al. . A randomized controlled trial of prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide for treatment of acute migraine
- Coppola M, Yealy DM, Leibold RA.. Randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide for emergency department treatment of migraine headache.
- Jones J, Pack S, Chun E. . Intramuscular prochlorperazine versus metoclopramide as single-agent therapy for the treatment of acute migraine headache.