Skip to content
  • Product
  • How it Works
  • Clinical Evidence
  • For Clinicians
  • Product
  • How it Works
  • Clinical Evidence
  • For Clinicians
+1 844.475.7100
US United States
Europe Europe
Canada Canada
Other Other
  • Product
  • How it Works
  • Clinical Evidence
  • For Clinicians
  • Product
  • How it Works
  • Clinical Evidence
  • For Clinicians
+1 844.475.7100
US United States
Europe Europe
Canada Canada
Other Other
September 14, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Migraine Prevention with CEFALY 

“I was skeptical at first but this device makes more of a difference than I had hoped. Not only does it reduce my headaches, migraines & auras, I have more energy & strength for moving around & doing daily tasks.” – James S.

“It works!!! I have been able to significantly cut down on medication. Also, the frequency of my migraines has decreased. I believe consistency does the trick. Using it daily for prevention makes such a big difference.” – Katrin R.

“I’ve tried so many different preventives and they all have bad side effects. Out of desperation, I tried CEFALY and it really works. My migraines have been cut down significantly. I still get them but they’re not as frequent or as intense.” – Sarah

It’s the one thing every person with migraine wishes for: fewer attacks and more good days. As you see when you read CEFALY reviews, for many people CEFALY helps make that wish come true.

However, it’s really important to stay consistent with treatments. Migraine prevention with CEFALY takes time and commitment to a daily routine. We’re here to help you succeed!

Here’s how CEFALY prevents migraine without medication

If you could look inside your own head, you would see a large, branching nerve with multiple endings in different parts of your face. This is the trigeminal nerve, the largest cranial nerve, which communicates sensations like touch, pain and temperature to the brain. It’s also the main pathway for migraine pain.

People with migraine have hypersensitive nervous systems that overreact to stimuli, setting off a chain reaction of brain activity that causes migraine pain and other symptoms. CEFALY uses precise, tiny electrical impulses to stimulate the trigeminal nerve to make it less sensitive.

  • The ACUTE setting uses a high-frequency stimulation to desensitize the trigeminal nerve and disrupt the pain signal to the brain.
  • The PREVENT setting uses a lower-frequency stimulation to desensitize the nerve fibers, thus increasing the trigger threshold over time and reducing the patient’s migraine days/migraine frequency.

Learn How CEFALY Works

How to use the CEFALY PREVENT setting

First, do all the prep outlined in your user manual.

✅ CEFALY charged?

✅ Electrode in good condition?

✅ Forehead washed and dried?

✅ Electrode placed correctly on forehead?

✅ Reclining or lying down in a comfortable position?

You’re ready to go! Press your CEFALY device button twice, with a slight pause in between each press, to begin a 20-minute PREVENT treatment session.

Remember, you can control the stimulation level! Press the button once at any time during the first 14 minutes of treatment to hold the intensity steady and stop it from increasing. You want the sensation to be noticeable but also comfortable.

Pay attention to how the stimulation feels.

  • Do you feel a gentle tingling, prickling, or vibrating sensation, like when your leg is falling asleep? This is how CEFALY should feel.
  • Is your eyelid or eyebrow visibly twitching for a prolonged period? This may mean that your electrode isn’t in the right place, or that the stimulation level is too high. Stop the treatment, adjust the electrode, and begin your treatment again.
  • If the sensation becomes too strong, stop the treatment and begin again. Using CEFALY should never be painful.

You can use the CeCe Migraine Management app to track your treatment progress and find your perfect intensity.

How to get the best results with CEFALY migraine prevention

Wouldn’t it be great if you could press a button and just turn migraine off? Unfortunately, that’s not how CEFALY works.

CEFALY gradually desensitizes your trigeminal nerve over time. For the best migraine prevention results, you should use the PREVENT setting every day, as directed. Just as it takes more than two or three workouts to build muscles, it takes more than just a few times using CEFALY to change the behavior of the trigeminal nerve.

Some people start seeing a decrease in migraine frequency within 6-8 weeks. Three months is the recommended length of time to achieve results. If you’re experiencing even a little improvement with the device after three months, that means you’re responding to neurostimulation. Keep using CEFALY and your migraine symptoms should improve.

The Migraine Prevention with a Supraorbital Transcutaneous Stimulator (PREMICE) study found that with compliant use of CEFALY’s 20-minute PREVENT treatment, patients experienced a significant reduction in the number of migraine days.

  • 38.1% of CEFALY users saw at least a 50% reduction in the number of migraine days.
  • 30% (mean 2.06) reduction in migraine days in the verum group.
  • Acute migraine medication intake decreased by 75% among patients who responded to PREVENT treatment with CEFALY.

Tips for sticking to your migraine prevention routine with CEFALY

  • Think of your CEFALY PREVENT treatment as essential self-care. Using your CEFALY shouldn’t feel like a chore or obligation! This is your time to take 20 minutes for yourself, and invest in your own wellbeing. Listen to a favorite audiobook, podcast, or music and chill.
  • Use CEFALY before bedtime. Many users find that CEFALY has a mild sedative effect and can be a relaxing evening routine. (Don’t use CEFALY while you’re asleep, however.) Remember: Going to bed at the same time every night can be an effective migraine prevention tactic on its own.
  • Connect your CEFALY routine with a habit you already have. If you have trouble remembering to do your treatment daily, try “stacking” the habit with something else you already do, such as brushing your teeth or washing your face.
  • Use CeCe to track your progress. The CeCe app makes it easy to log your migraine attacks and CEFALY sessions. Download personalized reports to see the effectiveness of your prevention routine.

Ready to commit to migraine prevention so you can get back to life? Order CEFALY today and try it risk-free for 90 days!

Get Drug-Free Migraine Relief With CEFALY

90-day money back guarantee
FDA-Cleared
Financing available

Related Posts:

  • FAQ
    FAQ
  • A woman lounging comfortably in order to use the CEFALY device.
    Customer Testimonial: CEFALY is the Best Solution…
  • When to consider a service dog for migraine
    Migraine Service Dogs: Your Questions Answered
  • Pausing to note your body's cues while exercising to prevent a migraine
    Why Do I Get a Migraine After Exercise — and How Do…
  • Treatment approaches for migraine + PTSD
    Explore the Connection: PTSD and Migraine 
  • Migraine Pressure Points
    Pressure Points for Migraine Relief
← Previous Post
Next Post →

Search the CEFALY Blog

Recent Posts

  • A mom with short brown hair hugs her son while wearing the CEFALY migraine device "CEFALY Gave Me My Life Back": Camille's Search for a Drug-Free Migraine Treatment
  • Episodic migraine vs chronic migraine What Patients Need to Know About Episodic Migraine vs. Chronic Migraine
  • A woman smiles while holding a model of the brain “That’s When I Realized: I Have Migraine.” Beth’s Empowerment Story
  • A glossy black CEFALY migraine device on a blue background The CEFALY Technology Origin Story: 20+ Years of Migraine Innovation
  • Unable to Tolerate Migraine Medication, She Turned to CEFALY: Lori's Migraine Story

Categories

  • CeCe App
  • CEFALY Education
  • CEFALY Journey
  • Clinician's Corner
  • Customer Testimonials
  • Healthcare
  • Living with Migraine
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Migraine 101
  • Migraine Info
  • Migraine Stories
  • Migraine Triggers
  • Seasonal Triggers
  • Veterans
  • Women's Health

Latest Posts

Essential Oils for Migraine Headaches
CEFALY Education

The Essential Guide To Medical Devices For Migraine

May 24, 2024
Read More →
A mom with short brown hair hugs her son while wearing the CEFALY migraine device
CEFALY Journey

“CEFALY Gave Me My Life Back”: Camille’s Search for a Drug-Free Migraine Treatment

Discouraged by her experience with medications, Camille began building a toolkit of non-pharmacologic migraine treatments. Find out what…

January 27, 2026
Read More →
Episodic migraine vs chronic migraine
Migraine Stories

What Patients Need to Know About Episodic Migraine vs. Chronic Migraine

While official definitions classify episodic migraine as fewer than 15 headache days per month and chronic migraine as…

January 2, 2026
Read More →
  • Cefaly App
  • Find a Provider
  • For Clinicians
  • Cefaly App
  • Find a Provider
  • For Clinicians
SUPPORT
Schedule Coaching
FAQ
Electrodes
CEFALY App
Find a Certified Provider
Quick Start Guide
Returns & Warranty
Contact Us
PROFESSIONAL
For Clinicians
Clinical Studies
INSURANCE & BENEFITS
HSA/FSA Eligible
COMPANY
About Us
Reviews
Careers
Affiliates
Influencers

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Return Policy

Cookie Policy

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

The CEFALY Migraine Relief app, CEFALY Connected device, and coaching services are not yet available in the EU.
© 2026 Cefaly. All Rights Reserved.

Region change detected

Checking your region...