title: Efficacy of intravenous propacetamol hydrochloride in the treatment of an acute attack of migraine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Triptans are a family of selective serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonists that are widely used to treat acute migraine attacks. Their efficacy is limited by side effects and the gastrointestinal manifestations of migraine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of a single intravenous administration of propacetamol, a prodrug of paracetamol (acetaminophen) with a single dose of oral rizatriptan in treating acute migraine attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were selected from those who presented to the emergency room with a diagnosed migraine attack and who had not previously taken any analgesics. They were randomized into 2 groups: treatment with a single 1g IV dose of propacetamol or with a single oral dose of 5mg rizatriptan. Their Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores were assessed before and at 30, 60, and 120min after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients who received the propacetamol had significantly improved VAS scores at 60min compared to the rizatriptan group. There were no significant differences in VAS scores at 30 or 120min post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propacetamol is either equivalent or superior in efficacy to rizatriptan for treating acute migraine attacks, while having the advantage of parenteral administration in patients whose migraines are accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58, Second Zhongshang Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Aiwu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 183, Zhongshan Road West, Guangzhou 510630, China. Electronic address: 924667646@qq.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 183, Zhongshan Road West, Guangzhou 510630, China.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58, Second Zhongshang Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Zhenyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58, Second Zhongshang Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58, Second Zhongshang Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Zijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58, Second Zhongshang Road, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: yannanfang@21cn.com.
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011355:Prodrugs; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D011355:Prodrugs; D000082:Acetaminophen; C063776:propacetamol
keywords: Efficacy; Headache; Migraine; Propacetamol; Rizatriptan; Triptans