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Caffeine/Propranolol Intervention for Acute Migraine

Randomized Double-Blind Study to Evaluate the Dose-Related Efficacy and Safety of Caffeine/Propranolol in the Treatment of Acute Migraine

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01080677
Enrollment
60
Registered
2010-03-04
Start date
2007-01-31
Completion date
2009-12-31
Last updated
2017-02-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Migraine Disorders

Brief summary

This is a research study to assess the safety of caffeine/propranolol at different dose levels. We want to find out what effects, good and/or bad, it has on patients and their migraines.

Detailed description

There will be a screening exam to find out if potential subjects are eligible to be in the main part of the study. Screening will include obtaining demographics, migraine history, migraine characteristics, verification that subjects's migraine satisfies the International Headache Society criteria, migraine medication history with success and failure rates, and medical history. If a subject is female, we will need to confirm to the extent medically possible that they are not pregnant. Female subjects must agree to have a urine pregnancy test done before beginning this research study. If a subject is a woman who is able to become pregnant, it is expected that they will use an effective method of birth control to prevent exposing a fetus to a potentially dangerous agent with unknown risk. They must accept the risk that pregnancy could still result despite the responsible use of reliable method of birth control. They agree to notify Dr. Cho as soon as possible of any failure of proper use of your birth control method, or if you become pregnant, either of which may result in your being withdrawn from the study. Subjects will also undergo a liver function test as well as an EKG to make sure they are eligible for the study. Once subject eligibility has been determined, they will be randomized to one of 3 study groups described below. Neither the subjects nor the doctor can choose which group subjects will be in nor will subjects or their doctor know which group subjects are in. They will have a one in three chance of being placed in any group. Two groups will be active treatment with either 400 mg caffeine and 40 mg propranolol or 1000 mg caffeine and 40 mg propranolol. The third group will be a placebo group with no active medication. Subjects will then be given a study kit, which includes caffeine/propranolol or placebo oral medication, a treatment booklet, migraine headache diary, pen and stopwatch. The study coordinator will then instruct them in the accurate method of diary completion and use of the oral medication or placebo pill. Their final visit will be scheduled within 60 days of enrollment. They will be instructed to treat one moderate or severe migraine attack with the study medication. They will be instructed to take study medication at aura onset in the presence of another adult. In the absence of any aura, they will be instructed to take study medication at headache onset. Another adult should be present when taking the study medication to ensure safety. In the event that the migraine occurs while they are alone, the subjects are instructed not to take the study medication and to wait for the next headache when adult supervision is available. They will not be allowed to use any non-steroidal,anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, non-prescription analgesics such as acetaminophen or aspirin, narcotic analgesics such as oxycontin, oxycodone, triptan or ergotamine medication or derivatives (Cafergot®, D.H.E., 45®\[dihydroergotamine mesylate\], Efcaf®, Ergomar®, Ergostat®, Migranal®, Nasal Spray, Sansert®\[methysergide\], or Wigraine®) within 24 hours prior to dosing with the study medication. Subjects will also be instructed not to use any caffeine such as coffee, tea, caffeine containing sodas, or caffeine containing medications (Cafcit®, Caffedrine®, Enerjets, Lucidex, No Doz® Maximum Strength, Vivarin®) within 6 hours prior to dosing with the study medication. Subjects will record the severity of their headache and associated symptoms at baseline and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes after dosing. If the migraine does not resolve or worsens after 2 hours, they will be allowed to take #rescue medication# as prescribed by their physician. Subjects will continue to record the severity of their headache and associated symptoms for 4, 12, and 24 hours after initial dosing. Following the last entry in the subject diary at 24 hours, they will be asked to complete a treatment satisfaction questionnaire. They will also be asked to contact Dr. Cho#s office to review their diary completion and to confirm the date of their final visit. If subjects have not called to report a migraine within a month (±7 days) of enrollment, Dr. Cho or someone from his research staff will call them to determine if they have treated a migraine. If a migraine was treated, Dr. Cho or the study staff will interview them to determine if the diary has been appropriately completed and to ensure that adequate information has been recorded. Their final visit will be confirmed and should occur within 30 days of the treated migraine. If they have not treated a migraine with the study medication within the first 30 days of enrollment, their final visit will be rescheduled within 60 days of your enrollment date (± 7 days). At the final visit, the study coordinator will review their subject diary for completeness and accuracy. All study materials will need to be returned at this visit. Subjects will then have a second EKG to make sure the medication didn't have any negative effects on their cardiac function. Subjects will be given a voucher to pay for parking expenses. In addition, there will be a data safety monitoring unblinding event after the first 15 patients have completed the study. All serious and non-serious adverse events will be analyzed regardless of the investigators' assessments of causality. Adverse events that result in death, hospitalization, permanent disability or threat to life are classified as serious. The Medical Dictionary of Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) will be used to categorize reported adverse events. Someone who is not directly related to the research team will conduct the safety monitoring. If there are any serious adverse events during the study, the study will be discontinued.

Interventions

DRUGcaffeine/propranolol combination tablet

caffeine/propranolol combination tablet administered orally once daily

DRUGplacebo

placebo to match caffeine/propranolol combination tablet administered orally once daily

Sponsors

Stanford University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Subject has a minimum 12-month migraine history that the investigator determines meets the International Headache Society (IHS) Migraine Diagnostic Criteria for migraine with or without aura 2. Subject is between 18-50 years of age. 3. Subject experiences an average of 2-8 migraines per month. 4. If on preventive migraine therapy, medication regimen has been stable for 30 days and will remain stable for the duration of participation. 5\. Subject is able to communicate adequately and comply with the requirements of the study as determined by the investigator. 6\. Subject is able to read and understand the informed consent written in English and voluntarily consents to sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subject#s age of migraine onset is greater than 50 years. 2. Subject has more than 6 non-migraine headache days per month. 3. Subject has less than 48 hours of freedom from headache between attacks of migraine. 4\. Subject meets the criteria for complicated and/or brainstem migraines. 5. Subject is pregnant or lactating. 6. Subject has history of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 2 years. 7. Subject has existing systolic blood pressure \< 100mm Hg, existing systolic blood pressure \> 150mm Hg, and or heart rate \<50 beats per minute. 8\. Subject has heart block greater than 1st degree without a functioning pacemaker 9. Subject has a history of tachyarrythmias 10. Subject has uncompensated congestive heart failure (CHF) 11. Subject has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or severe asthma. 12. Subject has consumed caffeine within 6 hours. 13. Subjects with existing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and/or panic disorder. 14\. Subjects with existing severe hepatic and/or renal insufficiency. 15. Subjects with existing Raynaud#s disease. 16. Subject is participating in another clinical trial during or within 30 days prior to study enrollment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Percentage of Participants Reporting Pain Relief at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol (Defined as a Decrease in Headache Pain Intensity From Severe or Moderate Headache Pain at Baseline to Mild or no Pain at 2 Hrs)2 hours

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Participants Pain Free at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol2 hours
Percentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Adverse Event of Interest24 hoursAdverse events may have included abdominal pain, flushing, dizziness, insomnia, or anxiety
Percentage of Participants With Treatment Satisfaction24 hoursFollowing up to 24 hours after treatment, participants were asked to report whether they were satisfied with level of pain relief provided by treatment

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Placebo
Participants received placebo to match caffeine/propranolol (single dose)
20
Low Dose
Participants received caffeine/propranolol 400/40 mg combination tablet (single dose)
20
High Dose
Participants received caffeine/propranolol 1000/40 mg combination tablet (single dose)
20
Total60

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboLow DoseHigh DoseTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
5 Participants5 Participants5 Participants15 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
15 Participants15 Participants15 Participants45 Participants
Gender
Female
10 Participants10 Participants10 Participants30 Participants
Gender
Male
10 Participants10 Participants10 Participants30 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
20 participants20 participants20 participants60 participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
4 / 205 / 205 / 20
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 200 / 200 / 20

Outcome results

Primary

Percentage of Participants Reporting Pain Relief at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol (Defined as a Decrease in Headache Pain Intensity From Severe or Moderate Headache Pain at Baseline to Mild or no Pain at 2 Hrs)

Time frame: 2 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboPercentage of Participants Reporting Pain Relief at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol (Defined as a Decrease in Headache Pain Intensity From Severe or Moderate Headache Pain at Baseline to Mild or no Pain at 2 Hrs)10 percentage of participants
Low DosePercentage of Participants Reporting Pain Relief at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol (Defined as a Decrease in Headache Pain Intensity From Severe or Moderate Headache Pain at Baseline to Mild or no Pain at 2 Hrs)45 percentage of participants
High DosePercentage of Participants Reporting Pain Relief at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol (Defined as a Decrease in Headache Pain Intensity From Severe or Moderate Headache Pain at Baseline to Mild or no Pain at 2 Hrs)60 percentage of participants
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Adverse Event of Interest

Adverse events may have included abdominal pain, flushing, dizziness, insomnia, or anxiety

Time frame: 24 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboPercentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Adverse Event of Interest10 percentage of participants
Low DosePercentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Adverse Event of Interest25 percentage of participants
High DosePercentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Adverse Event of Interest50 percentage of participants
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Pain Free at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol

Time frame: 2 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboPercentage of Participants Pain Free at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol0 percentage of participants
Low DosePercentage of Participants Pain Free at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol20 percentage of participants
High DosePercentage of Participants Pain Free at 2 Hrs Post First Administration of Caffeine/Propranolol35 percentage of participants
Secondary

Percentage of Participants With Treatment Satisfaction

Following up to 24 hours after treatment, participants were asked to report whether they were satisfied with level of pain relief provided by treatment

Time frame: 24 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboPercentage of Participants With Treatment Satisfaction5 percentage of participants
Low DosePercentage of Participants With Treatment Satisfaction40 percentage of participants
High DosePercentage of Participants With Treatment Satisfaction80 percentage of participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026