Nasal Spray Treatment May Help Migraines

Could a nasal spray help provide a new treatment option for those with mgiraines? Recent findings presented at the 2014 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition show a hopeful future.

"Currently, there are no marketed nasal spray formulations of prochlorperazine available for the treatment of migraine," said lead study author Venkata Yellepeddi, Ph.D from Roseman University of Health Sciences, in a news release. "Prochlorperazine is only available in tablet form, which has delayed onset of action."

For their findings, researchers examined prochlorpezine, a dopamine receptor that's previously been used to treat nausea. Yet new evidence suggests that this medication could help to relieve excruciating pain that often accompanies migraines. More specifically, researchers believe that the medication could be a better option than current anti-migraine drugs, including sumatriptan, metoclopramide and ketorolac.

"Prochloperazine is a dopamine receptor antagonist that is widely used as an anti-nausea medication," Dr. Venkata Yellepeddi, from Roseman University of Health Sciences, said in astatement. "Comparative clinical studies have shown that prochloperazine provides better pain relief than other anti-migraine drugs such as sumatriptan, metoclopramide, and ketorolac."

The Migraine Research Foundation show that around 18 percent of women and six percent of men suffer from migraines, which is also among the top 20 of the world's most disabling conditions.