Editor’s Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Intranasal lidocaine may reduce pain from migraine headache.
What question this study addressed
In migraine patients receiving protocol-based analgesic care, did intranasal lidocaine reduce pain?
What this study adds to our knowledge
In this randomized clinical trial of patients arriving between 5 and 7 hours after onset, intranasal lidocaine performed similarly to placebo in reducing pain while causing additional local irritation.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
Better treatments are needed for the emergency department management of headache. Clinical trials of intranasal lidocaine are conflicting, but the treatment has biologic promise.
Research we would like to see
A larger randomized clinical trial focused on patients arriving earlier after headache onset.