Very important – CO2 Migraine Treatment

You need to be very clear about the new C02 treatment for migraine.  Some of the reports have not been clear, so here’s what you need to know:

• There’s a treatment being developed that uses Carbon Dioxide (CO2) to treat migraine.
• This treatment is only in the experimental stages, it’s not on the market yet.
• The results of a recent study are still being reviewed.
• This treatment does not involve inhaling Carbon Dioxide

That’s right, don’t run off and start inhaling CO2 when you have a migraine.  That’s not how the treatment works.  Inhaling CO2 is dangerous!

This proposed treatment involves the use of a special device.  The special concentration of CO2 basically goes in one nostril and not the other.  It is believed that it may stop the pain chain-reaction in the trigeminal nerve system, although it’s not fully understood what is happening.

The good news is that 30% of migraineurs were pain free within two hours of the initial treatment (as opposed to 9% that received a placebo).  In fact, nearly 20% were pain free after only 30 minutes.  The treatment seems to work best with a mild to moderate attack if taken early in the attack.

The next phase of this study is planned for early 2006.