Investigating the Efficacy of Using Haloperidol vs. Metoclopramide for Treatment of Acute Headaches and Migraines in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Headache, Migraine
Sponsor: OhioHealth

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Investigating the Efficacy of Using Haloperidol vs. Metoclopramide for 
Treatment of Acute Headaches and Migraines in the Emergency 
Department: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial 
 
Christopher Lloyd, DO 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Headaches are a common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department (ED).  
Over 28 million Americans have migraine headaches, with nearly 15% of these persons 
seeking ED evaluation and treatment each year.  It is also estimated that patients with 
migraine headaches incur more than 17 billion dollars in the US health care costs 
annually.  ED treatment of patients presenting with headache is challenging because the 
pathophysiology of migraines is incompletely understood.  Due to this, there is no 
consensus for optimal treatment of patients in the ED setting.1 
 
At this time, choice of medications for the treatment of headaches in the ED is still based 
on personal and patient preferences because no properly constructed trials have been 
carried out that would allow identification of a superior agent.2 Metoclopramide (Reglan) 
is a common agent used for relief of headaches in the ED.  Uncontrolled studies have 
shown successful relief of migraine with metoclopramide of 75%.  Further studies have 
reported success rate of 67% with IV metoclopramide.3 In this study we seek to explore 
another option for treatment of headaches in the ED, one that may be more efficacious 
and efficient.  Haloperidol (Haldol), a butyrophenone class of medication, is thought to 
act by affecting the dopamine 2 receptor in the brain.  These receptors are relatively 
abundant in the brainstem nuclei and sympathetic ganglia and nerves, through which they 
may regulate autonomic visceral, gastrointestinal, and hemodynamic responses frequently 
associated with migraine.4 One study, demonstrated that 4 out of 5 patients felt 
significant relief in pain intensity with the use of haloperidol, even when other 

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medications had failed.  Relapses were rare, and several patients reported that haloperidol 
interrupted the prolonged, intractable migraine spiral they had suffered for days.5   
Furthermore, a case series of six cases of migraine treated with 5mg of haloperidol IV 
after a 500 to 1000ml bolus of IV fluids reported complete or substantial relief within 25 
to 65 minutes and side effects were reported as minimal.4 
 
The goal of ED therapy is to deliver rapid relief of pain, with a minimum of unpleasant 
adverse effects and without recurrence of headache after ED discharge.6 As mentioned 
previously there is no consensus on the most appropriate treatment for patients presenting 
to the ED with prolonged headache.  By exploring haloperidol as an option for treatment 
we hope to discover a more efficient and effective medication for the treatment of non-
traumatic headaches, thereby decreasing a patient’s length of stay in the department and 
decreasing the rate of return visits for continued discomfort from the same headache.  
This study could lead to the increased usage of haloperidol as a first line agent in the 
treatment of prolonged headaches presenting to the ED. 
 
Methods 
 
Study Population: 
 
This study will include 104 patients at least 18 years of age who present to the ED of 
Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio from January 2014 until June 2016 with an acute 
headache. To achieve 80% power to detect clinically significant differences between the 
migraine medication groups, this study needs to enroll a minimum of 90 patients meeting 
the inclusion criteria.  The increase from 90 to 104 will account for such issues as patient 
study withdrawal and loss to follow-up. 
 
Inclusion Criteria 
 Patients 18 or older  
 Patients who present with a headache or migraine with onset less than or equal to 
72 hours 

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Exclusion Criteria 
 Known pregnancy 
 Breast-feeding women 
 Known history of arrhythmias or QT prolongation (450 ms) 
 Known adverse effects to haloperidol, diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or 
metoclopramide 
 Subarachnoid hemorrhage 
 Headaches caused by trauma, meningitis 
 Congestive heart failure 
 Parkinson’s Disease 
 Dementia 
 Pheochromocytoma 
 History of glaucoma  
 History of seizures 
 Age less than 18 
 Non-English speaking patients 
 
Hypothesis: 
 
Haloperidol is more efficacious than metoclopramide in the treatment of an acute 
headache or migraine in the ED in regard to a self-reported pain rating scale (Numeric 
Pain Intensity Scale), need for additional medication, emergency department return rates, 
and resolution of symptoms. 
 
Study Design: 
 
This will be a prospective randomized single-blinded study.  Patients will be recruited 
into the study if they present to the Doctors Hospital ED with a chief complaint of acute 
headache or migraine. 
 

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The investigators or study staff will identify potential subjects by their presenting 
diagnosis, and verify that they meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria.  Once the 
inclusion/exclusion criteria are met, and the attending physician has agreed to follow the 
randomization, the patient will be approached by one of the study staff and the study will 
be thoroughly explained.  Once the patient has had all their questions answered and has 
agreed to participate in the study, informed consent will be obtained.  At this point, the 
study staff will record an initial Numeric Pain Intensity Scale score (0-10), to assess the 
patient’s pain level prior to receiving the treatment. 
 
After the patient is enrolled into the study and the initial information is collected, the 
investigator or study staff will check the randomization list to determine which treatment 
the patient will receive.  All patients will receive a 1-liter bolus of normal saline (NS) and 
25 mg of intravenous (IV) diphenhydramine.  In addition, patients will be randomized to 
receive either 2.5 mg of IV haloperidol or 10 mg of IV metoclopramide following the NS 
bolus and diphenhydramine. Patients will not know which treatment they receive. 
 
If a CT scan or lumbar puncture is performed after the medication is given indicating 
meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage, the patient will be withdrawn from the study. 
 
One hour after receiving the medication, the study investigator will once again record the 
patient’s pain level. If there is an unsatisfactory pain reduction experienced by the 
patient, additional medication may be given at the discretion of the clinician. If the 
patient receives additional medication, their participation in the study will end. 
 
For patients who did not receive additional medication, a chart review will be performed 
within 48 hours after ED discharge to determine if the patient had to seek further medical 
care for the same headache/migraine.  Once the chart review is performed, the patient’s 
participation in the study will end. 
 
Should an adverse event occur while a patient is enrolled in the study, the investigator or 
study coordinator obtaining consent will complete an adverse event report and submit this 

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to the IRB within 24 hours of the event.  Events that will require reporting include death, 
hospitalization, or any life threatening problem that arises prior to discharge from the 
Emergency Department. 
 
 
Data Storage and Confidentiality: 
 
Only de-identified or non-identifiable data will be reported in the study.  Only the 
research investigators will have access to patient information.  All resulting data will be 
stored in electronic format, which will be stored on a password-protected computer, and 
paper surveys will be collected and filed in a secured facility with limited access.  
Participants will not be excluded on socioeconomic, racial or religious identity.  No form 
of deception will be used.  The data collection and storage processes will follow HIPAA 
guidelines, in accordance with 21 CFR 46.115 (b); to protect both confidentiality and 
privacy of each participant.  All PHI data will be erased or destroyed per institution 
protocol. 
 
Study Variables:  
 
Data to be collected include: 
 Demographics (sex, age, ethnicity) 
 Treatment Group (haloperidol or metoclopramide) 
 Time of headache/migraine onset 
 Qualities of headache (location, radiation, associated symptoms) 
 Medication use prior to arrival (yes/no, type, time before study drug 
administration) 
 Type of long-term medication 
 Number of visits to healthcare provider for same headache/migraine prior to ED 
visit  
 Formal diagnosis associated with headache/migraine (previous diagnosis, during 
ED visit) 

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 Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (pre and 1 hour post treatment) 
 Need for additional medications used in the ED (yes/no, type, time after study 
drug administration) 
 Whether patient returned to Doctors Hospital ED or other healthcare provider for 
headache/migraine within 48 hours of ED discharge  
 
Statistical Analysis: 
 
We will test the hypothesis that clinically significant differences exist in pain perception 
and need for additional pain medications between metoclopramide and haloperidol.  
Descriptive statistics will be produced, using means, medians, ranges and standard 
deviations for continuous variables, and percentages for categorical variables.  
Independent variables will include: gender, age, headache qualities and visual pain scale 
scores.  Inferential statistics will determine statistically significant differences between 
comparison variables, using Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical data.  For 
continuous variables, the paired sample t-test will be employed when the data show 
normality, and the Mann-Whitney U test will be utilized for nonparametric data.  
Statistical significance will be evaluated at the 5% (α=0.05) level. 
 
 
References 
 
1. Metoclopramide Versus Hydromorphone for the Emergency Department Treatment of 
Migraine Headaches. Griffith, J, Mycyk, M, Kyriacou, D. The Journal of Pain Vol 9, No 
1 (January), 2008: 88-94 
2.Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Guidelines for the Acute Management 
of Migraine Headache. Ducharme, J. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Vol 17, No 
1(1999): 137-144 
3. Migraine: pharmacotherapy in the emergency department. Kelly, A.M., Accid Emerg 
Med 2000, 17:241-245. 

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4.Are butyrophenones effective for the treatment of primary headache in the emergency 
department? Leong, L.B., Kelly, A.M., Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2011; 
13(2): 96-104. 
5. Haloperidol in the Acute Treatment of Migraine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, 
Placebo-Controlled Study. Honkaniemi, J. Liimatainen, S., Rainesalo, S., Sulavuori, S., 
Headache. 2006; 46:781-787. 
6. Metoclopramide for Acute Migraine: A Dose-Finding Randomized Clinical Trial. 
Friedman, B, et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine. May 2011. Vol 57, No 5: 475-482.