Theophylline relieves headache following lumbar puncture

Abstract

In a study of 11 patients with typical headache following diagnostic lumbar puncture the effect of peroral treatment with theophylline (Euphyllin retard) was compared with that of placebo. When the headache was provoked by orthostatic strain, the six patients in the verum group showed significantly less pain (mean pain score: 16 +/- 3.91) than the five patients in the placebo group (mean pain score: 28 +/- 4.73). This beneficial effect of theophylline on post-puncture headache was subsequently confirmed by open observations of ten additional patients. In view of the small sample size our results should be considered preliminary. Nevertheless, they suggest that additional trials on the benefit of methylxanthines in the treatment of post-puncture headache are called for.

Non invasive Management of Post Dural Puncture Headache - A Comparison

“…Methylxanthine derivatives do not treat the CSF leak, only provide symptomatic relief by counteracting the compensatory cerebral vasodilation that occurs in response to loss of CSF volume 36,38 . So, now in comparison to all the above mentioned studies, it is evident that we used a patient friendly way to administer the drug, we found least side-effects and above all our result on the visual analogue score of pain with oral 400mg of Theophylline was (9.3 ±5.7) ,which is low than a similar study 35 .…”

Intravenous theophylline decreases post-dural puncture headaches

“…14 In a study of 11 patients with typical headache following diagnostic LP, the effect of peroral treatment with 281.7 mg theophylline (Euphyllin retard Ò ) thrice daily was compared with that of a placebo and was found to be effective for relieving pain. 5,6 In another report, in three consecutive patients suffering from life-threatening asthma in a comatose state and treated with theophylline 1.5 g/24 h, intracranial hypertension followed a bronchospasm and then disappeared with it. The authors commented that hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and high-peak airway pressures could explain the intracranial hypertension.…”

“…In a study of 11 patients with typical headache following diagnostic LP the effect of peroral treatment with 281.7 mg theophylline (Euphyllin retard Ò ) was compared with that of a placebo and found to be effective. 6 Pharmacological management of PDPH is a minimally invasive treatment modality. Severe headaches such as PDPH commonly present with nausea and this limits the effect of peroral medications.…”

The Efficiency of Intravenous Theophylline on the Headache Which Occurs After Spinal Anesthesia

“…Another research conducted over 11 patients suffering from the headache occurring after spinal anesthesia compared the oral teophylline treatment with placebo and it was observed that teophylline was effective [7,8]. Another research in the literature reports that a 58-yearold patient, who had suffered from chronic headache, vomiting and nausea as she stood up, positively responded to the teophylline treatment [11].…”

“…The parenteral pharmacotherapy is faster and more effective; and largely eliminates the necessity for more invasive procedures. In a study, the oral theophylline treatment (282.7 mg) applied to 11 patients suffering from the post-puncture headache is compared with the placebo and it was observed that the theophylline was effective [7].…”