Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of cluster headache: a case series

Effect of noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation on acute migraine: An open-label pilot study

“…These clinical results are broadly in line with the data reported here, and with anti-nociceptive effects of implanted VNS in humans (26), such that VNS has promise in migraine. Similar and encouraging results have been seen in cluster headache (27), supporting a view to move this approach to systematic clinical trials.…”

Partial Response of Intractable Cluster-Tic Syndrome Treated by Cervical Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation (nVNS)

“…Animal model studies scoping to parallel the state of electrical vagal stimulation revealed significant stimulation-induced levels of headache related transmitter under the above described stimulation paradigma [6,7].…”

“…A recently published clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) of the cervical vagal branch in acute migraine and cluster headache, and demonstrated encouraging results (significant reduction of attack severity and frequency); efficacy of nVNS was comparable to data available for first-line pharmacological interventions [5,6].…”

“…Treatment consisted of twice daily 90-s applications of the hand held device (electroCore LLC,07920 New Jersey, USA), to the right cervical branch of the vagal nerve, by positioning the device below the mandibular angle medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and lateral to the larynx, at a 15 min-interval [6]. We applied fluid gel for better conductivity.…”

“…The prophylactic and acute treatment potential of nVNS has been further investigated in 17 cluster headache patients, and the results demonstrated a significant decrease in severity (pre VAS 4.68/post VAS 2.54) and frequency and a reduction in medication use; several patients ceased medication use or no longer required inhalation of 100% oxygen to stop attacks [6]. Conversely, other studies have reported a less favorable outcome.…”