Cefaly is a neurostimulation device that was approved by the FDA in 2014. Until October of this year, it required a prescription. Several clinical trials proved the device to be not only effective but also very safe. Now it can be purchased without a prescription from the manufacturer’s website – Cefaly.com.
Cefaly is used for both prevention and acute treatment of migraine. It is applied to the middle of the lower forehead with an adhesive electrode. For acute therapy, the device is used for 60 minutes. For prevention, it is used daily for 20 minutes. Some of my patients find it effective on its own while others use it in conjunction with medications.
As far as side effects, the device is very safe. It can cause skin irritation from the adhesive or from the electrical current. Some of my patients reported worsening of their headaches. This tends to happen to patients who develop allodynia during their migraine attack. Allodynia means increased skin sensitivity. It can be so severe that sometimes a patient cannot even wear glasses or have a ponytail.
An electrical stimulation device that is better tolerated by patients with allodynia is Nerivio. It is applied to the upper arm for 45 minutes as needed. Nerivio requires a prescription but it is sometimes covered by insurance while Cefaly is not.
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