Treatment in carbon monoxide poisoning patients with headache: a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of specificity of the analgesic agents used to treat headache and underlying acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: To compare effectiveness of "oxygen alone" vs "metoclopramide plus oxygen" vs "metamizole plus oxygen" therapy in treating carbon monoxide-induced headache.

DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial.

SETTING: Three emergency departments in Turkey.

POPULATION: Adult carbon monoxide poisoning patients with headache.

METHODS: A total of 117 carbon monoxide-intoxicated patients with headache were randomized into 3 groups and assessed at baseline, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, and 4 hours.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was patient-reported improvement rates for headache. Secondary end points included nausea, need for rescue medication during treatment, and reduction in carboxyhemoglobin levels.

RESULTS: During observation, there was no statistical difference between drug type and visual analog scale score change at 30 minutes, 90 minutes, or 4 hours, for either headache or nausea. No rescue medication was needed during the study period. The reduction in carboxyhemoglobin levels did not differ among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSION: The use of "oxygen alone" is as efficacious as "oxygen plus metoclopramide" or "oxygen plus metamizole sodium" in the treatment of carbon monoxide-induced headache.