Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNasal Spray OptionsAvailable Nasal SpraysHow to UseEffectivenessBenefitsSide EffectsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Nasal Spray Options
Available Nasal Sprays
How to Use
Effectiveness
Benefits
Side Effects
Frequently Asked Questions
Prescription nasal spray medications may help relievemigrainepain in some people. This article will explain more about nasal sprays, including how they help treat migraines.
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Nasal Spray Treatment Options
Nasal sprays help treat thesymptoms of migrainesbut cannotprevent them from happening. A nasal spray will not reduce the number of migraines you get. However, they may provide rapid relief from a migraine in as little as 15 minutes.
A nasal spray can provide quick relief because the body can absorb the medications faster through the nose than in pill form. Your nose has many blood vessels that can absorb drugs. By entering the bloodstream through these blood vessels, medicine does not have to pass through your digestive system first.
Available Nasal Sprays for Migraine
The following prescription nasal sprays are available to treat migraine:
Contact your healthcare professional if you are interested in a nasal spray for migraines.
Medications for Treating Migraine Headaches
How to Use Nasal Spray
You should use the nasal spray as soon as the symptoms of a migraine appear. In general, you want to follow these steps:
Make sure to read and follow the specific instructions on your nasal spray product. Ask your healthcare professional if you have questions about using the medication.
Nasal sprays are considered to be highly effective treatment options for migraines. They can start to work in 15 minutes after you use them. However, nasal sprays work best if you use them as soon as the symptoms of a migraine appear.
According to the American Headache Society, nasal sprays are effective for treating migraines.Studies comparing nasal sprays to placebos (inactive sprays) show that the medications help treat the symptoms of migraines.
Migraine Treatments: Everything You Need to Know
The benefits of using nasal sprays for migraines are:
The side effects of using nasal sprays for migraines may include:
Summary
Nasal sprays are an effective treatment option for people who have migraines. They can work as quickly as 15 minutes if you take them at the first sign of a migraine. Although there are benefits to using nasal sprays, you should also be aware of the side effects.
A Word From Verywell
If you have migraines, you may want to consider using a nasal spray. Talk to your doctor about all of your treatment options to find the best one for you. You should not ignore migraine symptoms, and there are medications that may help.
You can purchase nasal sprays for migraines at pharmacies. You will need a prescription from your doctor to buy one.
You should not take nasal sprays for migraines if you:Have taken other triptans or ergot-type medications in the past 24 hoursCurrently take a monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor such as Nardil (phenelzine) or took one in the last two weeks. These are a type of antidepressant and may also be used for migraine.Tell your doctor about the following conditions because they may affect your ability to use nasal sprays for migraines:AllergiesHeart diseaseCirculation problemsHigh blood pressureHigh cholesterolDiabetesLiver diseaseKidney diseasePregnancySmokingObesity
You should not take nasal sprays for migraines if you:
Tell your doctor about the following conditions because they may affect your ability to use nasal sprays for migraines:
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.Nasal sprays for the treatment of migraine.MedlinePlus.Zolmitriptan nasal spray.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute migraine.Marmura MJ, Silberstein SD, Schwedt TJ.The acute treatment of migraine in adults: the American Headache Society evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies.Headache. 2015;55(1):3-20. doi:10.1111/head.12499
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.Nasal sprays for the treatment of migraine.MedlinePlus.Zolmitriptan nasal spray.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute migraine.Marmura MJ, Silberstein SD, Schwedt TJ.The acute treatment of migraine in adults: the American Headache Society evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies.Headache. 2015;55(1):3-20. doi:10.1111/head.12499
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Migraine Foundation.Nasal sprays for the treatment of migraine.MedlinePlus.Zolmitriptan nasal spray.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute migraine.Marmura MJ, Silberstein SD, Schwedt TJ.The acute treatment of migraine in adults: the American Headache Society evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies.Headache. 2015;55(1):3-20. doi:10.1111/head.12499
American Migraine Foundation.Nasal sprays for the treatment of migraine.
MedlinePlus.Zolmitriptan nasal spray.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute migraine.
Marmura MJ, Silberstein SD, Schwedt TJ.The acute treatment of migraine in adults: the American Headache Society evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies.Headache. 2015;55(1):3-20. doi:10.1111/head.12499
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