How Does CEFALY Work?

One Device. Two Settings. Acute Treatment - Use CEFALY at the onset of or during a migraine attack. Prevent Treatment - Use CEFALY daily. Attach the CEFALY device to your forehead with the reusable self-adhesive electrode. You will feel a tingling sensation created by tiny electrical impulses from the CEFALY device stimulating the trigeminal nerve. For Acute Treatment, Relief from an active migraine attack can be achieved in 60 minutes with CEFALY. For Prevent Treatment, Daily 20 minute preventative treatment sessions can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine symptoms. The CEFALY device will turn off automatically at the end of your session.

What Does CEFALY Feel Like?

At the start of a treatment, you may feel nothing or a slight tingling sensation, almost like your hair standing on end. The sensation or tingling feeling increases gradually and spreads through your forehead and the front part of your head. After about 14 minutes, the intensity stabilizes and remains constant until your treatment session is over.

How Does CEFALY Treat Migraines? - Drug Free

Q: How Do You Use Your CEFALY Device?

Step 1 - Cleanse Your Skin - It's important to cleanse your skin before every CEFALY treatment session. This will help ensure the electrode attached securely to your forehead. Use soap and water to wash between and above your eyebrows. Afterward, be sure to dry your skin thoroughly. The use of makeup removing products is NOT recommended as a substitute for soap and water. Step 2 - Open the Electrode - Open the electrode packet and slide out the plastic sleeve, then peel off the electrode. Step 3 - Position the Electrode - Use a mirror to place the Electrode so the curved area is in between your eyebrows and the wings are just above your eyebrows. Firmly run your fingers over the Electrode a few times until it lays flat against your skin. Step 4 - Connect Your Device - On the back of your CEFALY DUAL Enhanced, you'll find two small magnetic contacts, designed to securely attach to the Electrode (the contact in the center connects to the charging dock). Hold your device so these magnets are exposed and bring it toward your forehead. You'll feel the device pulling itself toward the Electrode. Once your device is securely attached to the Electrode on your forehead, you're ready to select either the ACUTE program or the PREVENT program.

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How CEFALY Works

CEFALY works by targeting the primary pathway for migraine pain: the trigeminal nerve. It uses external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) — a precise electrical impulse — to stimulate and desensitize the trigeminal nerve over time.

People with migraine have hypersensitive nervous systems that over-react to stimuli, causing pain and neurological dysfunction. The trigeminal nerve — a multi-branched nerve in the head and face — is the major conductor of migraine pain.

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How to treat migraine with CEFALY

CEFALY relieves migraine pain and reduces migraine frequency.

CEFALY transmits a mild electric current to the trigeminal nerve through an adhesive electrode worn on the forehead.

ACUTE treatment

Use the ACUTE program at the first sign of a migraine attack to relieve pain.

If you're new to using CEFALY, stabilize the intensity at a level that is comfortable for you. Try increasing the intensity over times as you get used to the device.

PREVENT treatment

Use the PREVENT program every day to prevent future migraine attacks.

Occasional or brief use of the PREVENT mode will not be effective. Just like you need a regular workout routine to build muscles, you need a daily PREVENT routine to desensitize the trigeminal nerve.

How to use your CEFALY device

Step 1 illustration - woman cleaning her forehead

1 Cleanse your skin

It's important to cleanse your skin before every CEFALY treatment session. This will help ensure the electrode attaches securely to your forehead.

Use soap and water to wash between and above your eyebrows. Then, dry your skin thoroughly.
The use of makeup-removing products is NOT recommended as a substitute for soap and water.

Step 2 illustration - opening the electrode pack

2 Apply the electrode

Peel the electrode from its plastic backing. Using a mirror, place the electrode so the curved area is between your eyebrows and the wings are just above your eyebrows. Firmly run your fingers over the electrode a few times until it lies flat against your skin.

To extend the life of the electrode, only handle it by the edges and with clean hands.

Step 3 illustration - woman aligning the electrode strip on her forehead

3 Connect your device

Hold your device so the magnets on the back are exposed and bring it toward your forehead until the device connects with the electrode.

Step 4 illustration - woman removing the electrode strip from her forehead

4 Begin treatment

Press the button once for the 60-minute ACUTE program to relieve migraine pain. Press it twice (with a brief pause in between) for the 20-minute PREVENT program.

How to get the best results with CEFALY

You’re in control. Briefly press the device button anytime during the first 14 minutes of a session to stabilize the intensity when you feel a strong vibration or stimulation sensation that is not painful.

Find your sweet spot: a stimulation level that’s comfortable for you and effective for migraine. You don’t need to reach full intensity to benefit from treatment with CEFALY.

Because CEFALY is a therapeutic device, you should pause your usual activities during treatments. We recommend using CEFALY while sitting or reclining, with the head tilted back.

Just as it takes more than two or three workouts to build muscles, it takes more than just a few sessions with CEFALY to change the behavior of the trigeminal nerve. Consistent, daily use is required.

If you’re not satisfied, you can return the device for a refund within 90 days.

Your CEFALY works with gel electrodes that can be reused several times. When the electrodes dry out or become dirty, they must be replaced.

Use the free CeCe Migraine Management app to record your CEFALY sessions, set treatment reminders and log migraine attacks. CeCe syncs with the CEFALY Connected to show you session intensity and time remaining.

Get the CEFALY Connected

Gain new insight into your migraine treatment journey. The Bluetooth-enabled CEFALY Connected allows you to optimize your treatments by tracking them on your phone.