“…For a given drug formulation the rate of absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract in fasting individuals could be modified by alterations in mucosal blood flow, digestive secretions and alimentary motility (Smythe, 1964). The impairment of drug absorption during a migraine attack could be related to changes in all these factors but there is at present no technique suitable for measurement of mucosal blood flow in man (Bynum & Jacobson, 1971) and no techniques have been described for the measurement of digestive secretions during drug absorption studies. However, radiological observations during migraine have demonstrated reduced gastric motility (Kaufman & Levine, 1936;Kreel, 1973) and metoclopramide is known to promote gastro-intestinal motility and gastric emptying in man (Bhaduri & Bradley, 1969;Connell & George, 1969;Howarth, Cockel & Hawkins, 1967;Johnson, 1973;Howard & Sharp, 1973;Nimmo et al, 1973).…”