Background: Rofecoxib is a potent cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor with a long duration of action. Its role in migraine has not been systematically evaluated. Aim: To study the efficacy of rofecoxib in migraine. Method: In a randomised placebo controlled trial rofecoxib 25 mg, ibuprofen 400 mg, and placebo were compared regarding their efficacy in relieving acute migraine attack. Migraine patients with 2-6 attacks per month were recruited. Headache severity, functional disability, and severity of associated symptoms were graded on a 0-3 scale. The primary endpoint was pain relief at two hours. Relief of associated symptoms and sustained pain relief for 24 hours were also noted. Result: One hundred and twenty four patients were randomised into rofecoxib (42), ibuprofen (40), and placebo (42) groups. One hundred and one patients were followed up: 33 on rofecoxib, 35 ibuprofen, and 33 placebo. Patients' ages ranged from 16-62 (mean 31.4) years, and 83 were females. Pain relief at two hours was noted in 45.5% on rofecoxib, 55.6% on ibuprofen, and 9.1% in the placebo group. The associated symptoms at two hours were reduced in 39.4% on rofecoxib, 50% on ibuprofen, and 9.1% in the placebo group. Sustained 24 hour pain relief was noted in 36.4% on rofecoxib, 41% on ibuprofen, and 6.1% in the placebo group. In the ibuprofen group, five patients had abdominal pain but there were no side effects in those on rofecoxib or in the control group. Both rofecoxib and ibuprofen were significantly effective in relieving pain, associated symptoms at two hours, and in sustained pain relief. There was no significant difference between rofecoxib and ibuprofen in aborting acute migraine attacks. Conclusions: Both ibuprofen and rofecoxib were superior to placebo in aborting an acute migraine attack, and there was no significant difference in their efficacy in an acute migraine attack. M igraine is one of the commonest causes of headache, and can be severe and last for hours to days. It is one of the commonest causes of absence from work and results in a considerable economic burden on society. Presently acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ergot alkaloids, and triptans are used for treatment of an acute migraine attack. The choice of abortive treatment is based on its efficacy in relieving pain, lack of side effects, and cost. Rofecoxib is a selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor with good gastrointestinal tolerance. In the treatment of arthritis rofecoxib was more effective in providing symptomatic relief of pain compared with placebo.1 Acetaminophen and celecoxib were similar in efficacy to ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and nabumetone. 2 In the available literature, we could not find a randomised placebo controlled trial on the efficacy of rofecoxib in migraine. The present study, therefore, aims at evaluating the efficacy of rofecoxib and ibuprofen with placebo in the treatment of an acute attack of migraine. METHODSThis randomised placebo controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital between...

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Digitalis poisoning is a rare problem in children, but it may be life threatening. A case of massive overdose of digoxin in a 2½-year-old boy that produced prolonged ventricular fibrillation refractory to conventional therapy is reported. After two hours the boy was given digoxin-specific Fab fragments of antibody in sufficient quantity to bind his estimated dose of 10 mg. By completion of the treatment minutes later, normal rhythm and circulation were restored. The serum free digoxin level before antibody administration was > 100 ng/ml, and it rapidly fell to undetectable levels after antibody was given. Digoxin bound to the antibody had a clearance half-life of approximately 48 hours. The child had no apparent neurologic damage and his intellectual function was normal on discharge. He had a transient hematuria and a residual incomplete right bundle branch block. Administration of purified Fab fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies can be life saving in children with digitalis poisoning, and prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children is justified when the cause of cardiac arrest is potentially reversible.

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