OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in clinical effect on menstrual migraine between subgaleal acupoint injection with metoclopramide and oral administration of medication.

METHODSSixty-four patients of menstrual migraine were randomized into a subgaleal acupoint injection group and a medication group, 32 cases in each one. In the subgaleal acupoint injection group, the acupoint injection started 10 days before menstruation. Eight acupoints on the head were selected and injected alternatively in two groups, once every 2 days, 4 treatments made one session and 3 sessions (3 menstrual cycles) were required. In the medication group, flunarizine was applied with oral administration, 2.5 mg each time, once every night. The duration of treatment was 3 months. The analgesic effect, frequency and time of pain attack were observed in 3 and 6 months after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, VAS scores were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), the attack frequency and pain time were all reduced as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). After treatment, VAS score, the frequency and time of pain attack in the subgaleal acupoint injection group were improved significantly as compared with the medication group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe subgaleal acupoint injection with metoclopramide achieves the superior preventive effect in clinical treatment of menstrual migraine as compared with flunarizine.