REVIEW Aspirin for acute migraine headaches in adults

A single oral dose of aspirin 900 mg or 1000 mg is more effective than placebo at resolving migrainous headache pain at 2 h and providing relief that is sustained over 24 h.1 Co-administration of meto-clopramide 10 mg may provide additional pain relief and a greater reduction in associated symp-toms, especially nausea.1 BACKGROUND Migraine is a common, disabling, headache disorder, with considerable social and economic impact on the individual and society. Despite experiencing a high level of disability, most migraine sufferers do not seek professional advice, with many relying on over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol and paracetamol with caffeine. OBJECTIVES This Cochrane review1 set out to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a single oral dose of aspirin, alone or in combination with an anti-emetic, compared with placebo and other active treatments in the treatment of acute migraine headaches in adults