Migraine attacks involve a complex cascade of neurological and vascular events — cortical spreading depression, trigeminal nerve activation, neurogenic inflammation, and vasodilation — that oral medications often cannot keep up with, especially when nausea prevents absorption. Our Migraine IV delivers prescription-strength medications directly into your bloodstream, bypassing the GI tract entirely for rapid relief when you need it most.
This is not a generic “hydration drip with vitamins.” Every component in this infusion is selected for its evidence-based role in acute migraine management, prescribed by Dr. Movshis, and administered under physician supervision at our Midtown Manhattan clinic.
Clinical Protocol
- Toradol (Ketorolac) IV — A prescription-only NSAID that targets the prostaglandin-mediated inflammatory response driving migraine pain. Toradol provides potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects within 15-30 minutes of IV administration. This medication is not available at wellness bars or mobile IV services — it requires a physician’s prescription and medical oversight.
- Reglan (Metoclopramide) IV — A dopamine D2-receptor antagonist that does two jobs at once: it stops migraine-associated nausea and vomiting, and it directly interrupts the attack itself. Metoclopramide is one of the most-studied acute migraine treatments in emergency-department research, where it relieves headache as well as injectable triptan medications in head-to-head trials. We infuse it slowly over the course of your drip to keep you comfortable and prevent the restlessness a rapid dose can cause. That dual action — a real abortive effect, not just nausea control — is why it belongs in a physician-built protocol instead of a wellness drip.
- Magnesium Sulfate IV — Magnesium plays a critical role in neuromuscular function, vascular tone regulation, and NMDA receptor modulation. Many migraine patients have lower intracellular magnesium levels, and IV magnesium is added as an adjunct that may help some patients — particularly migraines with aura — though the controlled evidence is mixed. IV delivery achieves serum levels that oral supplementation cannot match.
- Normal Saline IV — Dehydration is both a common migraine trigger and an exacerbating factor during attacks. IV fluid resuscitation restores circulating volume and supports renal clearance of inflammatory metabolites.
Who This IV Is For
This infusion is designed for patients experiencing acute migraine attacks, chronic migraine flares, or status migrainosus (migraines lasting longer than 72 hours). It is particularly effective for patients who cannot tolerate oral medications due to nausea, those who have not responded to triptan therapy, and individuals who want an alternative to emergency department visits for migraine management. Many of our patients schedule infusions proactively when they recognize early migraine warning signs.
How It Differs From Wellness IV Drips
Most IV lounges offer “migraine” drips consisting of saline, B vitamins, and magnesium — ingredients that may support hydration but lack the pharmacological potency to address the inflammatory and neurological mechanisms of a true migraine. Our protocol includes prescription medications (Toradol and Reglan) that are only available under physician supervision, combined with therapeutic-dose magnesium at concentrations that require medical monitoring. This is a clinical intervention, not a wellness service.
What to Expect
When you arrive during an active migraine, we prioritize your comfort immediately — dimmed lighting, a quiet treatment room, and minimal wait time. Dr. Movshis will briefly assess your symptoms, review any medications you’ve already taken, and confirm the infusion protocol. The IV is placed and the infusion runs over approximately 45-60 minutes. Most patients notice significant relief within 20-30 minutes as the Toradol and Reglan take effect. You’ll rest comfortably while the full infusion completes, and our team will monitor you throughout.
Integrating With Your Migraine Treatment Plan
The Migraine IV works as both a standalone acute treatment and as part of a broader migraine management strategy. For patients with frequent migraines, Dr. Movshis may recommend preventive treatments including nerve blocks, Botox (neuromodulator) therapy, or trigger point injections alongside IV infusions as needed for breakthrough attacks. This integrated approach — combining preventive procedures with acute IV rescue therapy — is something only a physician-led pain practice can offer.
Important Considerations
This infusion contains prescription medications and requires medical screening before administration. Because of the Toradol, patients with NSAID allergies, active GI bleeding, or significant renal impairment should tell our team first. Because of the Reglan, we also screen for Parkinson’s disease, a history of seizures, bowel obstruction, and certain rare adrenal tumors — dopamine-blocking medication isn’t safe in those situations. A few patients feel brief restlessness during or after the infusion; infusing slowly keeps this to a minimum, and it passes quickly. Dr. Movshis reviews your medical history and current medications before every infusion to confirm the protocol is right for you.
What the evidence shows
The drug components of this infusion are the part with real backing for acute migraine. The 2025 American Headache Society guideline on emergency-department migraine treatment rates IV ketorolac (Toradol) and IV metoclopramide (Reglan) as treatments that should be offered to eligible patients (Robblee et al., 2025). That is the evidence we lean on, and it is why these two medications anchor the protocol.
Magnesium is the honest exception. We add it as an adjunct and some patients seem to benefit, but a meta-analysis of randomized trials did not find IV magnesium reliably relieved acute migraine, and it raised the rate of minor side effects (Choi & Parmar, 2014). One more thing to be clear about: this is an acute, in-office rescue treatment given off-label, not a substitute for migraine prevention. For frequent migraines, Dr. Movshis discusses preventive options at your visit.