Dexketoprofen trometamol in the acute treatment of migraine attack: A phase ii, randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled, dose optimization study

Migraine is a disabling disease that can significantly affect a person's quality of life. This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of the 2 doses of dexketoprofen trometamol (DKP) compared to placebo for migraine treatment. Ninety-three patients with at least 1 migraine attack per month in the preceding 6 months were enrolled and randomized to 25 mg DKP, 50 mg DKP, and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, single-center, crossover, placebo-controlled study. Primary endpoint was pain-free episodes 2 hours after drug intake. The presence of accompanying symptoms and adverse effects was also recorded. Seventy-six patients (mean age 40.5 ± 10.9 and 61% female) completed the study. At baseline, mean number of attacks/month was 3.7 ± 1.3, with a mean duration of 15.4 ± 13.5 hours. Prevalence of pain-free episodes after drug intake was significantly reduced by 50 mg DKP vs placebo (33.8 vs 14.7%, P = .0065) whereas the dose of DKP 25 mg was better than placebo but did not reach statistical significance (23 vs 14.7%, P = .1182). Both 25 mg DKP (56.8 vs 25.3%, P = .0002) and 50 mg DKP improved headache relief compared to placebo. Furthermore, both doses of DKP increased the absence of functional disability (25 mg DKP, 39.7 vs 24%, P = .045; and 50 mg DKP, 45.9 vs 24%, P < .0004). Both doses of DKP were effective and well tolerated for acute migraine treatment.