How to Relieve Migraine Pain with CEFALY DUAL's ACUTE Program

When you sense a migraine attack is coming, reach for your CEFALY DUAL. It’s clinically proven to provide relief: In one study1, patients saw an average 59% reduction in migraine pain intensity following one hour of ACUTE program treatment with CEFALY DUAL.

The ACUTE program uses high-frequency eTNS (External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation) to block pain signals in the trigeminal nerve. To get the best results, it’s important to use CEFALY DUAL correctly. Follow the instructions in the manual, carefully cleanse your forehead, and apply the electrode in the right spot. Here are a few more tips for getting maximum migraine relief.

Use the ACUTE program at the first sign of a migraine attack.

Don’t wait for pain to intensify. You can and should begin the ACUTE program as soon as you know a migraine attack is coming, whether or not you experience aura. Keep your CEFALY DUAL charged and with you, so that it’s ready to go when you need it.

Give yourself time to get used to the sensation.

When you’re experiencing migraine pain, you want relief right away. But if you’re a new CEFALY user, understand that it takes time to get accustomed to the treatment. You may feel a prickly, numb sensation under the electrode, or the ACUTE program may feel too intense, compared to the lower-frequency PREVENT program.

New users should ramp up slowly. During the first 14 minutes of the ACUTE program, when the intensity is increasing, press your CEFALY DUAL device button once when you feel the sensation is as much as you can tolerate. This will stabilize the intensity, so it won’t exceed that level for the rest of the session.

The next time you use the ACUTE program, aim for an intensity level that’s slightly higher. CEFALY DUAL is designed to be used at maximum intensity. However, the sensation should never be painful. If pain persists, stop using CEFALY and speak with your healthcare provider.

Use the ACUTE program multiple times, if needed.

Depending on the severity and length of your migraine attack, you may wish to use the ACUTE program more than once per day. You can safely run two ACUTE programs back-to-back. Simply restart the device after it completes the first 60-minute session. After that, we recommend taking a break of at least 60 minutes before beginning another treatment session.

Use your other migraine supports and comforts.

Because CEFALY DUAL is a drug-free migraine treatment with minimal side effects, it can be used with other methods of migraine relief. These may include:

  • Retreating to a dark, cool and quiet environment
  • Applying hot or cold compresses
  • Drinking a small amount of a caffeinated beverage
  • Migraine medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription

Learn more about CEFALY DUAL

(1) Chou D. E. et al. Acute Migraine therapy with external trigeminal neurostimulation (ACME): A randomized controlled trail. Cephalalgia. 2018; Fig. 4, Page 10.

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