Neuromodulation for youth with acute migraine attacks

Current treatments for children and adolescents visiting the emergency department (ED) for migraine attacks are given through an intravenous (IV) catheter; these treatments have many side effects, high costs, and are associated with fear about pain. Patient engagement suggests that children and adolescents with migraine are interested treating migraine attacks in the ED with non-invasive neuromodulation.

We are conducting a pilot clinical trial to compare non-invasive remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) to standard of care IV treatments for children and adolescents with a migraine attack in the ED. Our initial goal is to see if the study is feasible and acceptable. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the REN device or typical IV medications, and a placebo. Participants and research personnel will not know which treatment is given to reduce bias related to treatment expectation.

This work may revolutionize the care of children and adolescents visiting the ED with migraine attacks by expanding treatment options to include a patient-centered, cost-effective, and non-invasive treatment. If this pilot study is feasible and acceptable, the next step will be a larger study at multiple centres to compare REN to typical IV medications.