ER headache relief: could a steroid combo beat standard painkillers?
NCT ID NCT07605065
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares a combination of two drugs (dexamethasone and metoclopramide) against standard painkillers (paracetamol or NSAIDs) for treating severe primary headaches in the emergency department. 94 adults aged 18-60 with a pain score of 5 or higher will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. The goal is to see which approach provides faster and more effective pain relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dexamethasone plus metoclopramide (given intravenously)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a faster, more effective way to relieve severe headaches in the emergency room.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-hospital trial (94 people) and may not apply to all headache types. Side effects from the drugs are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
About 94 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Nov 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Nov 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 60 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 to 60 years. * Patients presenting with primary headache diagnosed clinically. * Patients presenting within 72 hours of onset of headache. * Patients with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score ≥5. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with secondary headache disorders. * Patients with known allergy to dexamethasone, metoclopramide, paracetamol, or NSAIDs. * Pregnant females. * Patients with hepatic impairment. * Patients with renal impairment. * Patients with peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding. * Patients with extrapyramidal disorders. * Patients already receiving corticosteroids within previous 48 hours.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Primary headache are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.