U.S. FDA Approves Pfizer's Nasal Spray for Migraine Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a nasal spray developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to treat migraine headaches in adults. This marks the first time that a nasal spray has been approved to treat this condition, making it a major breakthrough in the treatment of migraines.

Migraine is an intense type of headache that often causes throbbing pain on one side of the head and can last anywhere from four to 72 hours. According to the American Migraine Foundation, around 10 percent of Americans suffer from migraine, with women more likely affected than men. Symptoms typically include visual disturbances such as flashes or zigzag lines, nausea and sensitivity to light, sound and smells.

Although there are many treatments available for migraine, they don't always work for everyone. As a result, scientists have been eager to find new approaches that offer relief without the use of drugs or invasive procedures.

Enter Pfizer's new nasal spray: designed specially for people suffering from migraine headaches already taking one triptan per month for prevention or episodic treatment. The product works by blocking substance P, which is involved in transmitting pain signals from the brainstem area where headaches originate to other parts of the body – thereby reducing their severity or duration entirely.

In addition to its efficacy in treating migraines, patients who used the spray also experienced fewer side effects compared to other treatments like injections and oral medications – suggesting it could be safer too. It should be noted however that long-term safety data still needs to be assessed over a longer period before any definitive conclusions can be made about its use among patients aged 12 years old and older