Paracetamol, ketorolac, and morphine in post-trauma headache in emergency department: A double blind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Headache is one of the most common complaints of patients after head trauma. The aim of this study was the comparison of the analgesic effects of intravenous ketorolac, morphine, and paracetamol in patients with headache following head trauma. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 105 referred patients to emergency unit with headache after head trauma. Patients were randomly divided into three groups of intravenous paracetamol (15 mg/kg in 100 mL normal saline), intravenous ketorolac (30 mg/kg in 100 mL normal saline), and intravenous morphine (0.1 mg/kg in 100 mL normal saline). Headache severity and side effects of drugs were assessed at baseline and 15, 30, and 60 min after intervention. Results: Headache severity score at baseline was similar among groups. After 15 min, headache severity score in paracetamol group was significantly lower than that in morphine and ketorolac groups (3.7 vs. 4.6 and 4.5, respectively). After 30 min, the score in paracetamol and ketorolac groups was significantly lower than that in morphine group (1.9 and 2.4 vs. 3.2, respectively). After 60 min, headache severity score in three groups was similar (1.6 in morphine and ketorolac groups and 1.5 in paracetamol group). The incidence of side effects in morphine group was significantly more than that in paracetamol and ketorolac groups. Conclusion: In emergency department, intravenous paracetamol and ketorolac obtain a faster and more effective onset compared with morphine for headache after head trauma.