ReviewHeadache2026
Microneedles for the treatment of migraine and orofacial pain: A narrative review.
Review in Headache, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMigraine is a common neurological disorder and a primary headache condition. Despite its central origin, migraine pain may be referred to the orofacial region via trigeminal pathways, resulting in phenotypic overlap with other orofacial pain (OFP) conditions. OFP represents a highly prevalent and heterogeneous group of pain disorders that substantially impair quality of life. Microneedle (MN) technology enables minimally invasive, localized, or transdermal drug delivery and has emerged as a promising mechanism-guided strategy for the management of migraine and other OFP conditions.
objectiveThis review aims to systematically summarize the current evidence on MN-based technologies for the treatment of migraine and other OFP conditions and discuss the therapeutic implications, limitations, and future directions of MN technologies.
methodsThis study is a narrative review. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched from inception to November 18, 2025. English-language studies evaluating MN-based technologies for migraine and other OFP conditions, including temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral mucosal ulcers, in animal models or human participants were included.
resultsEleven studies were included, covering migraine (n = 4), TMD (n = 2), and oral mucosal ulcers (n = 5). Across included studies, evidence for MN-based interventions was most advanced in migraine. Preclinical studies demonstrated that transdermal or intranasal MN systems enabled rapid and reliable drug absorption, with bioavailability comparable to subcutaneous injection. Clinical studies of MN-mediated triptan delivery reported high rates of 2 h pain relief and freedom from the most bothersome migraine-associated symptoms, with generally mild and transient local skin reactions. Beyond migraine, MNs were explored for TMD and oral mucosal ulcers, where they enabled localized and sustained analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and promoted tissue healing, although evidence in these conditions remains limited and largely preclinical.
conclusionsMN-based drug delivery represents a promising, minimally invasive strategy for migraine and other OFP management, with the strongest and most clinically relevant evidence currently available for acute migraine treatment. By enabling rapid and reliable drug absorption while bypassing gastrointestinal limitations, MNs may enhance the effectiveness of migraine-specific therapies. Emerging preclinical evidence further suggests potential applicability of MN platforms in other OFP conditions, including TMD and oral mucosal ulcers, through localized and sustained analgesic and anti-inflammatory delivery. Future research should prioritize migraine-focused optimization of MN materials and designs, alongside disease-specific expansion and standardized pain-related outcome reporting, to facilitate broader clinical translation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.