Is the Migraid device an asset in the non-pharmacologic treatment of migraine?

Non-pharmacologic treatment of migraine attacks is advised by guidelines to be considered. Some patients use digital massage of the temporal arteries. The Migraid device exerts a constant pressure on the temporal arteries and may be an alternative for the tiring digital massage. The present study investigates whether the new Migraid device may improve migraine symptoms. In a randomised multi-centre cross-over study the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a 1-hour use of the Migraid device at the start of the aura is compared with no-device in the treatment of migraine attacks with typical aura. Of the 134 patients who entered the study, 98 were suitable for the intention-to-treat analysis and 83 patients completed the study. Data on 94 Migraid treated and 87 non-treated attacks have been analysed. Twelve percent of patients (10/83) were pain-free at 2 hours in the Migraid group versus 1.6% (1/64) in the non-treated group (p = 0.02). After 24-hours 9.6% of patients were pain-free with the Migraid versus 0% with no treatment. After 2 hours 31.3% of patients perceived the migraine headache as severe using the Migraid versus 53.1% with no treatment. For nausea this was 6.1% and 15.6%, respectively (p = 0.01). The device was well tolerated. In conclusion, 1-hour use of the Migraid device at the start of the aura improved headache and other migraine symptoms compared to no treatment. Future research with a more appropriate control should determine whether the Migraid effects are going beyond unspecific placebo effects.