Treatment of Headache with Reserpine

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Abstract
A study was made of the efficaciousness of reserpine on 220 patients with chronic headache during a 15 month period. Diagnostically, patients were divided into the following groups: migraine-58 cases; tension headache-112 cases; headaches associated with hypertension-50 cases. The majority of patients were females in the 4th decade of life and, on the average, the symptoms were present for 5 years. Average daily maintenance dose of reserpine was 0.75 mg orally. Results with this drug indicated that patients with hypertension showed considerable improvement (80%), those with tension headaches, moderate improvement (67%), and those with migraine obtained no definite relief (38%). Results must be evaluated in the light of the favorable placebo response, which was 58% in migraine and tension headache and 66% in headaches associated with hypertension. In evaluating a drug it is important to recognize that its efficiency does not depend upon pharmacologic action alone. A multiplicity of factors must be given consideration, including patient-physician relationship, psychological status of patient and symbolic effect of taking a prescribed drug. The present report is too short a survey time in treatment to draw final conclusions as to effectiveness of reserpine in treatment of chronic headache.

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