Migraine Nasal Sprays: Do They Really Work?

With more than 39 million people in the United States suffering the discomforts of migraines, fast-acting, safe and effective treatments remain in high demand. Because anyone having a migraine wants relief “now,” nasal sprays have become a convenient and reliable treatment of choice for many patients.

Nasal sprays are often used by Adil Niaz, D.O., a neurologist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Dr. Niaz specializes in headache medicine and facial pain.

Understand Migraine Differences

A migraine is a type of headache characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of the head. Often running in families, migraines can worsen with routine physical activity, movement, coughing or sneezing. Migraines tend to occur most often in the morning, especially when the patient wakes up.

“They can happen any time of day, but nasal sprays are helpful for people who wake up with a migraine that is already severe,” Dr. Niaz says.

Migraines occur in two ways. The first is with aura, visual disturbances or temporary loss of vision and other neurological symptoms that may happen up to an hour before the headache starts. Speech may be affected, and the face and hands may tingle, accompanied by muscle weakness. These headaches can be debilitating.

Migraine without aura occurs in 70 percent of patients with migraine headaches—usually without warning, causing mood changes and fatigue.

Both forms of migraine may cause nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and confusion, as well as other symptoms. A migraine can last for hours or even days, and women are more than three times more likely to experience one than men.

Nasal Sprays Work for Migraine Patients

Dr. Niaz says nasal sprays or intranasal agents work well for people with chronic or episodic migraines. Episodic is defined as 0–14 headache days each month, while chronic migraine is characterized by 15 or more.

“Nasal sprays can really ‘kick’ a headache,” says Dr. Niaz. “This makes them an excellent choice for abortive or acute therapy to try to stop a migraine before it begins.”

For mild migraines, Dr. Niaz may prescribe over-the-counter pain relief, such as Advil or ibuprofen, or naproxen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

When more help is needed, one of seven triptans can help treat a migraine’s cause instead of just covering up the pain. Triptans are a broad and effective category of migraine medications, and they interact with serotonin receptors. The neurotransmitter serotonin works as a messenger carrying information between the brain and body, ultimately affecting functions like digestion, nausea and mood.

Benefits and Side Effects of Migraine Nasal Sprays

Although many patients use pills to relieve migraine pain, here’s why Dr. Niaz says a nasal spray may be right for you:

• Efficiency: Dr. Niaz says sprays work faster because they’re absorbed quickly by the nasal mucosa, or tissue that lines your nose. Pills must travel through the gastrointestinal tract. Sprays may bring relief in just 15 minutes, compared to 30 minutes with pills.

• Ease: “Many migraine patients are nauseous and can’t take a pill or keep it down,” Dr. Niaz says. Some migraine patients may have gastroparesis, partial paralysis or weakness of the stomach, causing the entire GI system, along with digestion, to slow down. This can happen during and between acute migraine attacks and can negatively impact how oral migraine medications are absorbed.

“When nausea and vomiting occur during migraine attacks, that’s likely due to gastroparesis,” says Dr. Niaz. “Migraine nasal spray takes the gut out of the equation.”

All medications can have side effects, and migraine nasal sprays are no exception. Discuss these with your doctor before starting something new:

• Unusual taste
• Nasal discomfort
• Dry mouth
• Tiredness
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting

If you have migraines, you know they’re not “just a headache.” Work with your doctor to find the treatment that’s best for you.

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Adil Niaz, D.O.
• To make an appointment with a neurologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about headache medicine at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.