If you feel a migraine starting, you might reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever or another option to stop it. But what can you do if these treatments no longer work? Your doctor may recommend switching to migraine infusion therapy to help.

MyMigraineTeam members have reached out to others to ask about their experiences with infusion therapy. “I’ve had migraine for 10 years and they’re getting worse. Nothing works for more than a month. The infusions they’re talking about are once every three months intravenously. Has anyone tried them?”

If your regular migraine medications aren’t working as well as they should, you may be a candidate for infusion therapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several infusion treatment options to help those living with migraine.

In this article, we’ll discuss what infusion therapy is and how it works to offer effective treatment for migraine relief. We’ll cover specific information about FDA-approved treatments and who to talk to if you’re interested in trying them.

1. Infusion Therapy Injects Medications Directly Into Your Veins

Intravenous (IV) infusions are given through a vein and allow healthcare providers to deliver medications directly into the bloodstream. You’ll need to visit an outpatient infusion center or your doctor’s office to receive your treatment. If you’re in the emergency room (ER) or hospital for a severe migraine attack, your doctor may choose to give an IV therapy there.

Your nurse will use a needle to place a small, thin tube known as a cannula into a vein. You’ll most likely have the IV placed in your arm or the back of your hand. The nurse will then give your medications in an IV drip over several minutes to hours. Some people like to bring a book or activity to keep them occupied during the infusion.

You’ll need to visit an outpatient infusion center or your doctor’s office to receive infusion therapy.

Throughout your treatment, your nurse will monitor how you’re feeling and watch for any possible side effects. IV infusion therapy for migraine side effects depends on the medication being infused. If you notice swelling in your face, mouth, or throat, hives, or trouble breathing, you may be having an allergic or infusion-related reaction. Let the nurse or clinic staff know right away.

Once the infusion is completed, your healthcare provider will remove the catheter from your arm or hand and place a bandage over the injection site.

If you received treatment in an outpatient infusion center, you can go home once your infusion is done. If you’ve been admitted to the hospital, your doctor may keep you for a few days to continue treatment and monitor your symptoms.

2. Infusion Therapy May Help Prevent Migraine Headaches

Many different medications work to prevent migraine headaches from occurring. One class of preventive migraine medications is known as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors. During migraine attacks, CGRP widens the brain’s blood vessels and triggers inflammation.

There’s currently one FDA-approved infusion for migraine prevention, called eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti). Eptinezumab works by blocking the CGRP protein to prevent migraine attacks from developing. It’s a monoclonal antibody drug, which is made from lab-created antibodies that target specific proteins in the body. It needs to be injected because if taken by mouth, your stomach would digest the proteins before they have a chance to work. Possible side effects of eptinezumab infusions are nasal congestion and sore throat.

3. One Type of Infusion Therapy Helps Relieve Migraine Attacks

Acute migraine treatment, also called abortive treatment, is used to relieve symptoms during an acute migraine attack — a sudden migraine episode with severe symptoms. There are several FDA-approved abortive medications. Dihydroergotamine (DHE), sold as D.H.E. 45, is currently the only acute treatment that’s infused to treat severe migraine symptoms. It works by narrowing the blood vessels responsible for the throbbing pain associated with migraine. It also blocks the brain from releasing CGRP protein. MedlinePlus notes that this medication shouldn’t be used to treat nonmigraine headaches or prevent migraine attacks from occurring.

An infusion therapy session may last several minutes to hours.

Doctors sometimes prescribe an infusion for people who visit the ER when their migraine symptoms don’t improve with other treatments. This infusion may include DHE. You’ll receive an infusion every eight hours for one to three days. Possible side effects of DHE infusions include upset stomach, dizziness, and tiredness.

4. Infusion Therapy Is Different From Other Migraine Treatments

Fortunately, there are several different migraine treatments available these days. Many work similarly to infused therapies to relieve your symptoms and prevent migraine headaches.

Gepants are a class of medications that, like eptinezumab, block CGRP. However, gepants are taken by mouth rather than IV infusion.

Many oral medications are taken more often than infusions. For example, one preventive medication is taken every other day to prevent migraine attacks, and it may also be taken to treat a migraine as it happens. Drugs called rescue treatments are taken during migraine attacks to help stop them as soon as they start. Another type of gepant is available as a nasal spray and is also used for treating migraine attacks after they’ve begun.

Some migraine medications are given as injections rather than infusions. They’re injected subcutaneously, meaning underneath the skin. Depending on the type of migraine you have, you may need injections once every one or three months. These injectable medications also block the effects of CGRP to treat and prevent migraine headaches.

If you’re admitted to the hospital, you may receive other therapies along with migraine medication. Dehydration can trigger migraine headaches, so you’ll likely get IV fluids. Electrolytes like sodium and potassium can also boost hydration if needed. IV fluids don’t contain any medications, but they may make you feel better while in the hospital.

5. You Can Talk to Your Doctor About Migraine Infusion Therapy

If you’re still experiencing frequent migraine attacks on your current treatment plan, make an appointment with your doctor or neurologist (a specialist in brain and nerve disorders). They’ll explain your treatment options, which can include infusion therapy. You may have to try other medications first before trying an infusion therapy option.

Overall, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to find which treatments work best for you. Finding the right combination of medications can take time, but it can help improve your overall quality of life.

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Have you had infusion therapy to treat migraine? How did it work for you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.