The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a device that is the first of its kind proven to help treat migraine sufferers. The Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS) has been shown to reduce the pain of patients during research.

"Millions of people suffer from migraines and this new device represents a new treatment option for some patients," Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement.

Economic and social costs of migraines
Symptoms of a migraine headache include painful throbbing on one side of the head, feelings of nausea or having sensitivity to light and sound, according to the Mayo Clinic. Migraine headaches result in $24 billion in costs in the U.S. each year, the National Headache Foundation said.

In addition to the economic costs, this debilitating condition can also affect people's overall lives. An estimated 14 million people have chronic daily headaches, during which they have migraines that last at least 15 days per month, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Patients with chronic migraines may find that their quality of life is diminished due to constantly exhibiting neurological symptoms associated with migraines that may impede their ability to function normally.

Results of the study show pain lessened with treatment
The TMS device has about the same strength as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, which incorporates powerful magnets. While 17 percent of patients in the control group reported being migraine pain-free, almost 38 percent of subjects who underwent migraine therapy using the Cerena TMS said they felt no pain two hours past using the device. This new treatment may also have longer-lasting effects than typical migraine medication as after 24 hours, about 34 percent of the patients who used the device reported they were pain-free, which surpasses the 10 percent in the control group who said the same thing.

While the device was successful in treating pain associated with migraines, patients might not notice a difference with other symptoms.

"The study did not show that the Cerena TMS is effective in relieving the associated symptoms of migraine, such as sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound and nausea," the FDA said.

Although the Cerena TMS has not yet been proven to treat all symptoms of migraine headaches, medical device manufacturers are likely to continue using powerful magnets to create new treatments that may be able to find an optimal migraine cure.

The device might also not be the best treatment for all patients. The FDA warns against patients using the magnetic device if they have metals located in their head, neck or upper body as metals may become attracted to the magnet. Those with an implanted medical device should also avoid using the Cerena TMS device.

While children can also suffer from migraines, with half of all patients with migraines having their first attack before reaching the age of 12, according to the Migraine Research Foundation, the Crena TMS is not approved for use for patients below the age of 18.