Does oxygen therapy help alleviate migraine headaches?

From the Guidelines

Oxygen therapy is not recommended as a treatment for migraines based on the provided evidence. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, does not mention oxygen therapy as a treatment option for migraines. Instead, it recommends other treatments such as triptans, aspirin-acetaminophen-caffeine, and newer calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors (gepants) for acute migraine treatment.

Key Points:

• The provided evidence does not support the use of oxygen therapy for migraines.
• Other treatment options, such as triptans and CGRP inhibitors, are recommended for acute migraine treatment.
• The evidence is based on the latest guidelines from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense, 1.
• The guidelines emphasize the importance of individualized treatment and consideration of patient preferences and values.

Treatment Options:

• Triptans: effective for acute migraine treatment, but may have side effects such as nausea and dizziness.
• Aspirin-acetaminophen-caffeine: a combination medication that can be effective for acute migraine treatment, but may have side effects such as stomach upset.
• CGRP inhibitors (gepants): a new class of medications that can be effective for acute migraine treatment, but may have side effects such as nausea and constipation.

Conclusion:

Based on the provided evidence, oxygen therapy is not a recommended treatment for migraines. Instead, other treatment options such as triptans, aspirin-acetaminophen-caffeine, and CGRP inhibitors should be considered. It is essential to individualize treatment and consider patient preferences and values when selecting a treatment option.

From the Research

Oxygen Therapy for Migraine Headaches

• Oxygen therapy has been studied as a potential treatment for migraine headaches, with some studies suggesting its efficacy 2, 3, 4, 5.
• The exact mechanism of oxygen therapy in relieving migraine headaches is uncertain, but it is thought to involve inhibition of the trigeminoautonomic reflex, modulation of neurotransmitters, and cerebral vasoconstriction 2.
• Studies have used different inhalation protocols, including high-flow oxygen therapy at 10-15 L/min via face mask 3 and hyperbaric oxygen at 2 atmospheres of pressure 4.
• Some studies have reported significant relief of migraine headache symptoms with oxygen therapy, including a randomized crossover trial that found high-flow oxygen therapy to be effective in relieving pain, nausea, and visual symptoms 3.
• Another study found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy was more effective than normobaric oxygen therapy in relieving migraine headache symptoms 4.
• A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that high-flow oxygen therapy was effective in relieving all types of headache, including migraine, in an emergency department setting 5.

Efficacy of Oxygen Therapy

• The efficacy of oxygen therapy for migraine headaches has been demonstrated in several studies, with response rates ranging from 24% to 57.1% 3, 5.
• Oxygen therapy has been compared to other treatments, such as oral zolmitriptan, and has been found to be more effective in some cases 6.
• The use of home oxygen concentrators has been studied as a potential alternative to conventional oxygen therapy, and has been found to be effective in relieving cluster headache symptoms 6.

Safety and Tolerability

• Oxygen therapy has been found to be safe and well-tolerated in most studies, with no significant adverse events reported 3, 5, 6.
• The use of high-flow oxygen therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been found to be feasible and safe in patients with migraine headaches 3, 4.