title: Intravenous lignocaine infusions for severe chronic daily headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of intravenous lignocaine infusion in patients with severe chronic daily headache (CDH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective survey of consecutive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 patients, 18 with rebound headache and three with status migrainosus. Two patients had both conditions at different times.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurology unit in a major metropolitan teaching hospital, 1994-1998.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adverse events; headache resolution; long term efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 19 patients (16 women) received 27 lignocaine infusions. Seven minor adverse events were noted during four infusions. Twenty-two infusions were given for analgesic rebound headache in 18 patients, with headache resolution in 82% of infusions (17 of the 18 patients responded at least once). Four patients obtained lasting relief, six returned to their regular manageable pattern of migraine (in two of these patients CDH recurred after six months), four were lost to follow-up, and in four there was no long term benefit. Five infusions were given for status migrainosus in three patients, with four of these infusions successfully relieving the headache.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous lignocaine appears to be useful in the management of severe intractable CDH and status migrainosus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine