FDA approves migraine treatment device
Do you suffer from migraines? Do frequent headaches prevent you from completing normal daily activities? You’ve tried every migraine drug on the market, meditated, and juice cleansed, just to find they just keep coming back.
The National Institutes of Health reports that 10 percent of the world population suffers from migraine headaches. This headache can last from four to 72 hours and can cause sensitivity to light and sound, and even vomiting.
In a recent press announcement, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a new technology that provides hope for migraine sufferers. The device is said to greatly reduce or even eliminate migraine headaches.
The device, called Cefaly, is a small, battery-powered headband made of plastic. For treatment, the user simply wears Cefaly across the forehead, where the device uses low electrical currents to stimulate the nerves responsible for headaches. It is currently manufactured in Belgium and is available upon prescription. Cefaly is approved for people over the age of 18 and is used once a day for 20 minutes.
Patients use the technology for treatment of current migraines or for those with persisting migraines. Experts say Cefaly can be used regularly to prevent the nerves from reaching the migraine threshold. It is the only device authorized for use previous to the onset of a migraine.
“Cefaly provides an alternative to medication for migraine prevention. This may help patients who cannot tolerate current migraine medications for preventing migraines or treating attacks,” said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation for the FDA, in a statement.
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Though this article says it’s available by prescription, it is also available commercially. Amazon has it for between $350 and $550 with mixed reviews. Most like it and give it 4-5 stars, but they consistently comment it is flimsy and breaks easily. I’m going to suggest it to my sister and her daughter who are both debilitated by migraines.
I have two family members that experience debilitating migraines several times per year. This device appears to have some glimmer of hope for them and I pray that it reduces their painful experiences.