Nasal Spray Alleviates Migraines in Kids

A study of children and adolescents who suffer from migraine headaches showed that the nasal spray zolmitriptan (Zomig) relieves the pain of a migraine about 2 hours after initial treatment. Dr. Paul Winner, director of the Palm Beach Headache Center in Florida, and his team studied 248 children aged 12 to 17 who experienced migraine headaches and the accompanying nausea and hypersensitivity to light and sound. The children were all treated with a placebo spray at first. Of that group, 171 reported no relief and were then divided into 2 groups: another placebo group and a Zomig group. After an hour, 28% of Zomig patients reported having no pain, and 51% were able to resume normal activities. In the placebo group, 10% reported no pain after 1 hour. At the 2-hour marker, 39% of the Zomig group reported having no headache, compared with 19% of the placebo group.

Ms. Farley is a freelance medical writer based in Wakefield, RI.