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Ergotamine and Methysergide Abuse in Patients with Migraine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

R. N. Lucas  and
W. Falkowski
R. N. Lucas
Affiliation:
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, London S.E.5
W. Falkowski
Affiliation:
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, London S.E.5
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Extract

Ergotamine preparations are extensively used in the treatment of migraine. Although not widely appreciated, there have been reports in the literature of ergotamine abuse, related to the development of tolerance and withdrawal headaches, which result in a steadily increasing consumption of the drug (Wolfson and Graham, 1949; Peters and Horton, 1951; Friedman et al., 1955). It is important clinically to recognize this condition, as ergotamine can have dangerous vascular side-effects (Byrne-Quinn, 1964; Cranley et al., 1963; Young and Humphries, 1961).

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 122 , Issue 567 , February 1973 , pp. 199 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1973 

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