IV Treatments for Migraines: Do they work?

Did you know that 39 million Americans suffer from migraines?¹ If you’re one of them, you know how debilitating migraines can be. The throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound can disrupt every aspect of your life. Migraines may force you to miss work, cancel plans, or hide away in a dark room until the pain passes.

If you’ve tried over-the-counter or prescription meds but are still searching for relief, you may have heard of IV treatment for migraines. But what exactly is it and how does it work? Read on to find out if IV migraine treatment may be right for you.

What causes migraines?

Migraine is a neurological disorder that affects 15-20% of the population.² While migraine is a common condition, its causes aren’t entirely understood. 

Many believe migraines are due to abnormal brain activity that affects nerve signaling, blood vessels, and chemicals. Yet genetic and environmental factors also play a role. 

Risk factors for migraine include:

• Genetics – If one or both of your parents have migraine, you’re much more likely to have it yourself.
• Sex – Women are 3 to 4 times more likely to suffer from migraine than men.
• Hormone changes – In women, the hormonal changes of menstruation and pregnancy may trigger migraines. Migraine symptoms tend to improve after menopause.
• Age – Migraines can happen at any age, but they often start in the teenage years. Migraine attacks usually peak in the 20s and 30s. After that, they tend to become less intense and frequent.^{2 3}

In addition, many environmental and lifestyle factors can trigger migraine attacks.

Common migraine triggers include:

• Stress
• Dehydration
• Lack of sleep
• Bright or flashing lights
• Strong smells
• Weather changes
• Intense exercise
• Certain foods, including aged cheeses, wine, chocolate, processed meats, & caffeine
• Food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Artificial sweeteners like aspartame
• Certain medications including birth control pills and vasodilators⁴

What are migraine IV treatments?

Migraine IV treatments are often used for severe migraine attacks when typical migraine meds aren’t working. They’re also helpful for migraine attacks that last for 72 hours or more (known as status migrainosus).

IV migraine treatment, also known as migraine infusion therapy, varies depending on your symptoms. It typically includes a combo of fluids, vitamins, minerals, and medications to target multiple symptoms at once. For this reason, migraine IV treatments are often referred to as “migraine cocktails.” 

Migraine cocktails also vary depending on where you receive treatment, whether that be in a hospital or infusion center. There are even mobile clinics that come right to your house. 

A migraine IV cocktail may include the following:

• IV fluids – Dehydration is a common migraine trigger. Plus, migraine attacks can cause vomiting in some people. That’s why hydration is crucial for treating migraine. 
• B complex vitamins – Certain B vitamins, such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin) are shown to reduce migraine symptoms.
• Magnesium – This mineral is often lacking in people with migraine. Magnesium relaxes blood vessels and is shown to reduce migraine pain.
• Vitamin C – A potent antioxidant that reduces brain inflammation. 
• NSAIDs – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ketorolac or ibuprofen help reduce inflammation, pain, and throbbing.
• Anti-nausea medications (antiemetics) – About 60% of migraine sufferers experience nausea or vomiting during an attack. For this reason, anti-nausea meds like Zofran are often included to ease symptoms. 
• Triptans – These antimigraine meds shrink blood vessels and calm overactive nerves. If you get an IV migraine cocktail in the ER, it may include one of these meds.^{5 6 7}

Do IV treatments work for migraine?

There is evidence that migraine infusion therapy can offer relief. The bulk of the research centers on magnesium. 

One study found magnesium sulfate IV treatment improved migraine pain within 1-2 hours.⁸ In addition, another study found IV magnesium reduced migraine pain just as well as conventional migraine meds.⁹

Another small study compared the effectiveness of IV magnesium sulfate to placebo. In the magnesium group, migraine pain disappeared for 87% of people.¹⁰ For the remaining 13%, migraine pain was reduced.

Research also highlights the benefits of other migraine cocktail ingredients. For example, one small study found that Zofran reduced pain in 90% of children suffering from an acute migraine attack.¹¹

In addition, evidence shows that the NSAID ketorolac can improve migraine pain and related symptoms better than a placebo.¹²

What are the potential benefits of migraine IV treatments?

One of the main benefits of IV treatment for migraines is fast relief. IV meds bypass your digestive system and are delivered straight into your bloodstream.

For this reason, migraine cocktails can offer quicker relief than oral medications. For some people, relief may come in as little as 15-30 minutes. For others, it may take a few hours. 

Delivering medications via IV also prevents any gastrointestinal upset that may result from oral medications. This is especially helpful since migraine attacks often include nausea and vomiting.

Another perk to IV migraine treatment is that it can address multiple symptoms at the same time. This includes pain, inflammation, dehydration, and nausea. Treatment can be customized to each person’s unique symptoms. 

Migraine cocktails may also reduce the need for over-the-counter or prescription pain meds. This is important, as overuse of these medications can trigger headaches. 

Plus, migraine IV therapy from an infusion center or mobile clinic is more convenient and less expensive than heading to the ER.

Are there any side effects to migraine IV treatment?

Like all medications, side effects can occur from IV migraine therapy. The main side effect is pain and swelling at the injection site.

Other than that, side effects will vary depending on the ingredients in your migraine cocktail. Vitamins, minerals, and IV fluids are typically well tolerated. However, side effects are possible for the following medications.

Antiemetics

This class of medications reduces nausea and vomiting. Zofran is the one typically used in migraine cocktails. 

Common side effects include:

• Headache
• Constipation
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Drowsiness¹³

NSAIDs

Common side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ketorolac include:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Stomach pain
• Heartburn
• Gas 
• Bloating¹⁴

Triptans

Triptans carry a risk of side effects too. Common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Flushing
• Neck pain
• Tingling or numbness 
• Chest pain¹⁵

What to expect from a migraine IV treatment

Migraine IV cocktails work quickly. Since medications are delivered straight to your bloodstream, they go to work right away.

Previously, you had to head to the ER for a migraine cocktail. But today, many outpatient infusion centers provide IV therapy. These settings usually have a relaxing lounge area with comfortable chairs. There are also mobile clinics that can offer IV treatment right in your home. 

No matter which route you choose, someone will place a catheter in your arm or hand. You’ll then sit back and let the medicine go to work. 

Treatment time varies depending on the ingredients in your migraine cocktail. Some treatments may only take 45-60 minutes, while others may last a few hours. 

For some, relief may be felt within minutes. For others, it may take a few hours to see benefits.

Other migraine remedies and prevention tips

When it comes to migraine, prevention truly is the best medicine. Here are a few tips to prevent migraine attacks from occurring:

• Know your triggers. Keep a migraine journal to track your unique triggers. Whether it’s a certain food, drink, or scent, the more you understand your triggers, the easier it is to prevent future attacks. 
• Manage stress. Stress is the most common migraine trigger. So reducing stress is a must. Try to set aside at least 15 minutes for relaxing self-care every day. Journal, meditate, do some yoga, spend time in nature, or simply take some slow, deep breaths.
• Prioritize sleep. Lack of sleep is another common migraine trigger. So do your best to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
• Get regular exercise. Exercise eases stress, improves sleep, and releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Just don’t overdo it, as intense exercise may trigger migraines.

In addition, many natural remedies may offer migraine relief. Here are a few:

• Dim the lights. Bright light can aggravate a migraine. If you’re in the midst of an attack, try dimming the lights or pulling down the shades to help speed up your recovery. 
• Try an ice pack. Placing an ice pack on your forehead, neck, or shoulders may ease migraine pain. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, which may block pain signals.
• Take magnesium. People with migraine are often low in this mineral. Research shows magnesium supplementation can help prevent future migraine attacks.
• Get acupuncture. Research suggests acupuncture is just as effective at easing migraine symptoms as traditional migraine meds. Plus, acupuncture has fewer adverse effects compared to migraine medications.^{16 17}

About Mindy Palmer
Mindy Palmer is a wellness writer and certified holistic health coach. She enjoys inspiring others to live healthier lives by creating informative content for leading-edge health and wellness brands.

Sources:

1. “What is Migraine?” American Migraine Foundation. Americanmigrainefoundation.org.

2. Bron, C., H.G. Sutherland, & L.R. Griffiths. “Exploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.” Neuropsychiatry Disease and Treatment, no. 17 (2021): 1183-1194.

3. Fila, M., E. Pawlowska, et al. “Different Aspects of Aging in Migraine.” Aging and Disease 14, no. 6 (2023):  2028-2050.

4. “Migraine.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Mayoclinic.org.

5. Namazi, N., J. Heshmati, & A. Tarighat-Esfanjani. “Supplementation with Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) for Migraine Prophylaxis in Adults and Children: A Review.” International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 85, no. 1-2 (2015): 79-87.

6. Mauskop, A., & B.M. Altura. “Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines.” Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 5, no. 1 (1998): 24-7.

7. Láinez, M.J., A. García-Casado, & F. Gascón. “Optimal management of severe nausea and vomiting in migraine: improving patient outcomes.” Patient Related Outcome Measures, no. 4 (2013): 61-73.

8. Miller, A.C, B.K. Pfeffer, et al. “Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate to Treat Acute Headaches in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review”. Headache: The Journal of Headache and Face Pain 59, no. 10 (2019): 1674-1686.

9. Kandil, M., S. Jaber, et al. “MAGraine: Magnesium compared to conventional therapy for treatment of migraines.” The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, no. 39 (2021): 28-33.

10. Demirkaya, S., O. Vural, et al. “Efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute migraine attacks.” Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 41, no. 2 (2001): 171-7.

11. Talai, A., & B. Heilbrunn. “Ondansetron for Acute Migraine in the Pediatric Emergency Department.” Pediatric Neurology, no. 103 (2020): 52-56.

12. Pfaffenrath, V., E. Fenzl, et al. “Intranasal ketorolac tromethamine (SPRIX(R)) containing 6% of lidocaine (ROX-828) for acute treatment of migraine: safety and efficacy data from a phase II clinical trial.” Cephalalgia 32, no. 10 (2012): 766-77.

13. “Ondansetron.” National Library of Medicine. Medlineplus.gov.

14. “Ketorolac.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research MFMER). Mayoclinic.org. 

15. Nicolas, Samar & Diala Nicolas. Triptans. (Treasure Island, FL:  StatPearls Publishing; 2024).

16. Domitrz, I., & J. Cegielska. “Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine-From Theory to Practice.” Nutrients 14, no. 5 (2022): 1089.

17. Molsberger, A. “The role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 184, no. 4 (2012): 391-2.

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