Studies on Headache

UML-491,*1-methyl-D-lysergic acid butanolamide bimaleate, a derivative of lysergic acid, is being extensively investigated as regards its apparent although limited effectiveness in prevention of vascular headache.¹,²,³It is known to have an antiserotonin and an antiedema action in laboratory animals.⁴,⁵,⁶It is also known not to have a direct or immediate vasoconstrictor action.⁸,⁹To establish whether or not such antiedema effects of this agent are specific for serotonin, and whether the agent also possesses a nonspecific anti-inflammatory effect in man, a series of observations using manganese butyrate as a noxious agent to induce sterile inflammation were undertaken. Furthermore, observations concerning its central action and its indirect effect on peripheral vascular structures were noted. Anti Inflammatory Action of UML-491 in Man The method of Lovell, Goodman, Hudson, Armitage, and Pickering⁷was applied in order to define whether or not UML-491 has an anti-inflammatory action in human subjects