Exploring the Use of Vagal Nerve Stimulation as an Alternative to Commonly Prescribed Migraine Medicine

Abstract

Scholars often define migraine as a headache of varying intensity, often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, and sound (Pescador et al., 2022; Yeh et al., 2018; Weatherall et al., 2015). Migraine is a debilitating disease that affects a sizable portion of humans. Currently, the most common method of treatment for migraines is mediation from drugs such as Ergotamines and Triptans. Although medication is a very common treatment, many alternative treatments exist. Although such medications have varying degrees of effectiveness, they are becoming increasingly common, in part, due to their cost effectiveness and simplicity of use. The purpose of the current work is to summarize the research done on one particularly promising alternative method, namely vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and propose avenues for further research. VNS comes in multiple forms (auricular, cervical, inserted), each of which are associated with differential levels of effectiveness in reducing migraine symptomatology. Importantly, each form of VNS is also associated with distinct drawbacks as well. The current work suggests that more research is still needed to robustly understand the optimal method of VNS for migraine treatment and how VNS interacts with other treatments (e.g., medication). In addressing these topics, the current work seeks to construct a more robust understanding of the promise and future applications of VNS.