The Ketamine Healing Clinic’s of Los Angeles and Orange County offer multiple treatments for Migraine and Cluster headaches: IV Ketamine infusions, at-home Ketamine nasal spray or sublingual tablets, and the gammaCore Vagus Nerve Stimulator.
Ketamine for Migraine and Cluster Headaches
Ketamine has been shown to decrease the severity and incidence of headaches following IV infusions. Generally, one hour infusions of IV Ketamine are sufficient, but some patients require longer and higher dosage infusions. If a person wishes to avoid the IV route of Ketamine administration for headache relief, they may opt for our NutraBrain program for the at-home Ketamine prescription.
Not all patients with migraine or cluster headaches benefit from Ketamine, hence the success rate is variable. At the Los Angeles clinic, we combine Ketamine and Dilaudid in the IV infusions to maximize headache relief. Please note we do not prescribe Dilaudid or any other opiates.
gammaCore for Migraine and Cluster Headaches
gammaCore Sapphire™ is the first and only FDA cleared non-invasive device to treat and prevent multiple types of headache pain via the vagus nerve. It’s small, handheld and portable for quick and easy treatments whenever and wherever needed. For acute use, treat right away and with a few 2-minute treatments. To prevent future headache pain, treat 2 times a day (morning and night) for more headache-free days, so you can live life with less disruption.
To obtain this device, you first need to complete a video consultation with Dr. David Mahjoubi, after which your prescription for gammaCore will be sent to the manufacturer for shipping. Please note the cost of the device is $450, and is seperate from the consultation fee. Book your gammaCore video consultation with Dr. David. To learn more about gammaCore, please visit gammaCore. gammaCore may also be used for depression and anxiety relief, but we recommend TMS & Ketamine as the first line treatment for mood.
gammaCore (non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation) is FDA cleared for the following conditions:
- The preventive treatment of migraine headache in adolescent (age 12 and older) and adult patients.
- The acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adolescent (age 12 and older) and adult patients.
- Adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients.
- The acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients.
- Treatment of hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania in adults.
In addition to these 6 indications, gammaCore was granted breakthrough device designation from the FDA for symptoms of PTSD in 2022. Several double blind, placebo controlled studies suggest that nVNS therapy may benefit patients suffering from PTSD including those with TBI comorbidities. Study evidence showed that nVNS attenuates sympathetic arousal in patients with PTSD, affecting both inflammatory biomarkers associated with PTSD and clinical symptomatology. At this time, using gammaCore to treat PTSD or any stress-related disorder is considered an off-label use.
Who cannot use gammaCore
gammaCore should not be used by people with an active implantable medical device or have a metallic device implanted at or near the neck.
Recognizing the role of the vagus nerve in depression from microbiota-gut brain axis.
How to Use gammaCore
References: 1. Nonis, R., D’Ostilio, K., Schoenen, J., & Magis, D. (2017, June 26). Evidence of activation of vagal afferents by non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation: An electrophysiological study in healthy volunteers. Cephalalgia, 37(13), 1285–1293. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102417717470 2. Frangos, E., & Komisaruk, B. R. (2017, January). Access to Vagal Projections via Cutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Neck: fMRI Evidence in Healthy Humans. Brain Stimulation, 10(1), 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2016.10.008
