Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39911098›Full record

ReviewCurrent opinion in neurology2025

How can you manage an indomethacin-responsive headache in someone who cannot take indomethacin?

Aleksander Osiowski, Kacper Stolarz, Dominik Taterra

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current opinion in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Indomethacin testing in suspected paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua: Clinical phenotypes and response patterns in a tertiary headache centre.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Aleksander OsiowskiFaculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow.
Kacper StolarzFaculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow.
Dominik TaterraDepartment of Orthopedics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Zakopane, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewParoxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua are rare primary headache disorders which are distinguished by an absolute response to indomethacin. As a matter of importance, no guidelines have been proposed for alternative therapeutic options in case of indomethacin intolerance. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current findings, especially focusing on the past 18 months, in the treatment of both paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua and to provide proposed management recommendations based on summarized evidence. RECENT

findingsApart from well recognized gastrolesive effects of indomethacin, a substantial number of patients may suffer from neuropsychiatric adverse reactions. Recent studies demonstrated that melatonin, which has been known for its effectiveness for hemicrania continua, is also useful for paroxysmal hemicrania. Promising nonpharmacological treatment option, which is noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation, has been shown to be beneficial for both indomethacin-responsive headache disorders allowing the reduction of indomethacin dosage. Although the data on substitutive medication choice for indomethacin are currently scarce, the most consistent results have been repeatedly achieved with acemethacin, selective COX-2 inhibitors, and anticonvulsants. However, considering the crucial role of pathophysiology, research investigating the efficacy of drugs targeting the trigemino-vascular system activation, as well as controlled trials assessing the efficacy involving the aforementioned therapeutic options are still vague. SUMMARY: In spite of numerous reports suggesting reliable alternatives to indomethacin, the consensus on pharmacological therapy guidelines for indomethacin-responsive headache disorders has not yet been reached. Further research and agreement from the experts' standpoint are needed for an establishment of reliable treatment recommendations.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalHeadacheIndomethacinHumansAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalIndomethacinhemicrania continuaindomethacin-responsive headacheparoxysmal hemicraniaside effectstreatment recommendations

Identifiers

PMID39911098
PMCPMC12052051

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.