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When should headache treatment be escalated to inpatient IV lidocaine?

There are some data supporting the use of IV lidocaine as an abortive treatment for migraine, NDPH, and some trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, when do you recommend pursuing this treatment option?
2 Answers
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Neurology · University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Answered on

Overall, there is a lack of data (few studies) supporting the use of IV lidocaine. There are safety concerns, especially in the pediatric population. The other barrier is lack of expertise, most institutions need a sedation/anesthesia team for IV lidocaine administration even if it's done in outpati...

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Mednet Member
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Neurology · Greater Boston Headache Center at Boston Advanced Medicine
Answered on

My personal experience with IV lidocaine for headache or migraine going back to the 1980s is that it does not work. It certainly should never be a reason for hospitalization; we administered it in an outpatient clinic.

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