The Cost of CEFALY vs. Migraine Medication

People living with migraine know that the search for relief is often long, frustrating, and expensive. 

Even with health insurance, chronic migraine patients typically pay $8,500 to $9,500 per year out of pocket for migraine care. Episodic migraine patients may pay less, but still find themselves facing big medical bills and high prescription costs. And if you have comorbid conditions, as many people with migraine do, that’s a whole other suite of healthcare costs.

Are you struggling with the high cost of migraine care? Neuromodulation therapy with the CEFALY device can be an affordable migraine treatment option. CEFALY is a durable medical device that’s intended for long-term use. You don’t need to purchase prescription refill cards — you just use it when you need it for acute or preventive treatment. Your only ongoing cost is the reusable adhesive electrodes.

How does the CEFALY device cost compare to migraine medication costs? We’ll look at them side by side.

Why are migraine medications so expensive? 

Many new pharmaceutical migraine treatments have come to market within the last few years. That means cheaper generics aren’t yet available. Pharma companies have invested a lot in the research, development, testing, and marketing of these medications.

Older migraine medications tend to be much cheaper. These include generic amitriptyline, topiramate, timolol, propranolol, and triptans. But their effectiveness varies: Some patients find they work well, while others don’t respond to them or can’t tolerate the side effects.

Below, you’ll find the retail price for brand-name migraine medications, based on GoodRX’s data on prescription drug costs. The actual price you pay may vary, depending on:

• Insurance coverage and co-pays
• Manufacturer rebates
• Patient assistance programs
• Coupons/discounts 
• Co-pay savings cards
• The pharmacy you use (mail-order may be cheaper than a local store)
• The quantity you order/use

Migraine medication cost comparison

The cost of CEFALY vs. the cost of migraine medications

The expense of medication leads many patients to seek drug-free migraine treatments. One clinically proven option is non-invasive neuromodulation. This treatment stimulates nerves with tiny, precise electrical impulses, which alters the nerves’ behavior to prevent and relieve migraine attacks. Decades of research have shown neuromodulation to be safe and effective.

CEFALY is the #1 neuromodulation device for migraine, used by more than 300,000 patients. It’s also one of the most affordable migraine devices. 

CEFALY Connected costs $509. That’s less than a single dose of many migraine medications. It’s yours to keep and use as often as you need. And the CEFALY device comes with a 3-year limited warranty, so you know it’s built to last. 

You don’t need a prescription. You don’t need a doctor’s visit. Payment options include HSA/FSA, Affirm and PayPal Credit. CEFALY may also be covered by your health insurance plan.

Once you purchase CEFALY, your only ongoing cost is replacement electrodes. Most people find that a 3-pack of electrodes will last about a month when they’re using CEFALY regularly. So you could expect to spend $28-$36 per month for electrodes — but you may need less or more, depending on a few factors: 

• How often you use CEFALY (daily for prevention, as-needed for relief, or both)
• The type of electrode (standard or hypoallergenic) 
• How the electrodes are stored (they last longer when you take care of them!)
• Your skin (patients with oily skin may find that electrodes need to be replaced more often)

Save 5% on CEFALY electrodes and get free shipping with auto-delivery.

How CEFALY can save you money on migraine medications

Not only does the CEFALY device cost less than many prescription migraine pharmaceuticals, but it’s clinically proven to help patients take less medication.

The Migraine prevention with a supraorbital transcutaneous stimulator: A randomized controlled trial (PREMICE) study found that CEFALY’s PREVENT treatment helped decrease reliance on acute medication.

• 74.4% decrease in acute migraine medication intake among patients who responded to PREVENT treatment with CEFALY (after 3 months)

• 36.6% decrease in acute migraine medication intake among all patients after 3 months of PREVENT treatment with CEFALY.

This means that you could have fewer migraine days and save almost 75% on medication costs with CEFALY’s daily preventative treatment. Use the CeCe Migraine Management app to track your migraine attacks and treatment effectiveness.

10 reasons to try CEFALY

If you’re already spending thousands per year on medication, doctors’ visits, supplements, and other non-drug migraine treatments, you may wonder: “Is CEFALY worth the money?” Here’s why so many patients say the answer is yes.

1. CEFALY is safe: No serious adverse effects reported in any clinical study
2. CEFALY has only minor side effects: Dread taking medication because it makes you feel sick, groggy, dizzy, depressed, or unable to sleep? CEFALY is free of harmful side effects. All side effects are minor and fully reversible once you stop using the device.
3. CEFALY is clinically proven: Based on 20+ years of research and tested in more than 18 clinical trials 
4. CEFALY can be used with medication: No need to stop using pharmaceutical solutions that work for you
5. CEFALY can be used with Botox: Just wait 48-72 hours after your injections to use CEFALY.
6. CEFALY can be used alone: Proven to be an effective frontline acute treatment
7. CEFALY relieves your worst non-pain symptoms: Clinically proven to resolve migraine-associated nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity
8. CEFALY is durable: Built to high standards, with a 3-year limited warranty
9. CEFALY is soothing: Adjust the stimulation intensity to your ideal level. It feels like a gentle vibrating, prickling, or head massage.
10. CEFALY is simple: Tired of fighting insurance companies and spending money on specialists? CEFALY puts you in control of your migraine treatment. It’s easy to buy and easy to use.

Best of all, you can try CEFALY risk free for 90 days. Return the device within that window if you’re not happy with your results.