Nerve block or antidepressant? study tests two migraine treatments Head-to-Head
NCT ID NCT02090998
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares two treatments for transformed migraine (chronic daily headache): a sphenopalatine ganglion nerve block using lidocaine gel applied inside the nose, versus daily oral amitriptyline (Elavil), an antidepressant often used for migraine prevention. Ten adults aged 18 to 90 with a formal migraine diagnosis are randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The goal is to see which approach better reduces the number and severity of daily headaches.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lidocaine gel and amitriptyline
- What this could lead to
- If one method proves more effective, it could offer a better option for managing chronic migraines with fewer side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early-phase study with only 10 participants, so results may not apply widely. Both treatments have known side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Pain Center of NJ
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.