Nasal lidocaine to reduce pain from Botox injections for chronic migraine

Topical Intranasal Anesthetic Block for Reducing the Pain of Botulinum Toxin Injections for Chronic Migraine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Study

Not applicable Interventional Association of Migraine Disorders · NCT07571889

This test will see if placing small cotton pieces soaked in 4% lidocaine inside each nostril for five minutes before onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections lowers injection pain for adults getting Botox for chronic migraine.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment18 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAssociation of Migraine Disorders Academic / other
Locations1 site (East Providence, Rhode Island)
Trial IDNCT07571889 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study compares intranasal 4% lidocaine–soaked cotton pledgets versus saline-soaked pledgets placed in the anterior nostrils for five minutes prior to standardized modified PREEMPT onabotulinumtoxinA injections. Adults who meet clinical criteria for onabotulinumtoxinA prophylaxis for chronic migraine and can tolerate intranasal cotton pledgets are eligible. Pain experienced during the injections will be recorded and compared between the lidocaine and saline groups. Key exclusions include lidocaine allergy, pregnancy or lactation, significant nasal pathology, and other dominant primary headache disorders.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18) scheduled for modified PREEMPT onabotulinumtoxinA for chronic migraine who can give informed consent, are not pregnant, are not allergic to lidocaine, and can tolerate intranasal cotton pledgets.

Not a fit: People who are allergic to lidocaine or other amide anesthetics, pregnant or breastfeeding, unable to tolerate intranasal pledgets, or with significant nasal pathology or a different dominant primary headache disorder are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, this simple, low-cost approach could reduce the pain of Botox injections and improve patient comfort during prophylactic treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Applying topical intranasal anesthetic specifically to reduce pain from onabotulinumtoxinA injections is relatively novel and there is limited published data on this exact technique.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged ≥18 years
* Any gender
* Able to provide informed consent
* Meets clinical criteria for onabotulinumtoxinA for chronic migraine (minimum of 2 days of disability per month due to facial or headache pain, or 8 headache days per month, or more than 15 headaches per month)
* Scheduled for modified PREEMPT injections at the clinical site

Exclusion Criteria:

* Aged \< 18 years
* Trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache, or other primary headache disorders as dominant diagnosis
* Not able to provide informed consent
* Known allergy/hypersensitivity to lidocaine or amide anesthetics
* Pregnancy/lactation
* Inability to tolerate intranasal nasal cotton pledgets
* Significant nasal pathology at placement site

Where this trial is running

East Providence, Rhode Island

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Pain From onabotulinumtoxinA Injections
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.