NOVEL MIGRAINE TREATMENTS

Bryan Helstad, RPh

Reported below are several articles on novel drug treatments for migraines.

Lidocaine 4% topical solution is being touted as a quick migraine reliever. About 1 ml. is instilled topically deep into the nasal passage using a long tipped syringe. The anesthetic action numbs nerves in that area. Relief is obtained in 5 minutes for about 50% of the patients; but relapse occurred within 1 hour in half of these. The other 50% of patients had no relief. It still may be worth a try in some patients (JAMA 276:319, 1996; Arch Neurol 42:496, 1995).

Aspirin 1 gram along with metoclopramide 10 mg (Reglan) in combination has also shown to be effective in relieving migraine headache. It can be used as an alternative to Imitrex (sumatriptan) oral tablets and is a lot less expensive . The authors report the efficacy is equal to Imitrex; so it is certainly worth a try (Lancet 346:923, 1995).