A Randomized Controlled Trial of Medical Therapies for Chronic Post-Traumatic Headaches
Abstract
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of propranolol, topiramate, and amitriptyline as treatments for chronic post-traumatic headaches secondary to combat-related mild head injury. Over a 3-year period 305 soldiers with chronic PTH were screened and 64 were enrolled, falling short of the enrollment target of 240 subjects. 39 (61%) had evaluable data after drug titration and 34 (53%) completed the 3-month treatment period. Discontinuation rates ranged from 39% for topiramate to 53% for amitriptyline but were not significantly different between treatment arms. Monthly headache days decreased from 12.2 at baseline to 7.9 during the final month in all subjects (-36%, p=0.0001), 16.7 to 8.7 in the placebo arm (-48%, p=0.012), 11.7 to 6.1 in the amitriptyline arm (-41%, p=0.0005), 14.0 to 8.3 in the propranolol arm (-41%, p=0.10), and 9.3 to 8.8 in the topiramate arm (-5%, p=0.80). Mean MIDAS scores decreased from 71 at baseline to 31 at the final visit among all subjects (p=0.0001) and significantly declined in the placebo, topiramate, and propranolol arms. There were no significant differences between placebo and any treatment. PTSD symptom checklist scores significantly declined in the topiramate arm. This study is limited by the small number of subjects, high response rate in the placebo arm, and relatively low subject completion rate. The study is closed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA562926
Entities
People
- Jay Erickson
Organizations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine