Recent research suggests that a medication similar to Ozempic may offer new hope for chronic migraine sufferers. In Australia, an estimated 5 million people experience migraines, with women being three times more likely to be affected than men. The pain can be severe and may last from a few hours to up to three days if left untreated.
While avoiding certain triggers like alcohol and cheese can help manage migraine occurrences, many traditional treatments are ineffective, leaving numerous Australians to endure the pain in silence. A recent small-scale Italian study has found promising results with Liraglutide, a drug typically prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Participants who underwent three months of treatment reported a significant reduction in migraine days—from an average of 20 days per month to 11.
Carl Cincinnato, director of operations at Migraine and Headache Australia, remarked on the encouraging nature of this study, emphasising its potential to pave the way for a new class of migraine treatments. Notably, the success of Liraglutide does not appear to stem from weight loss, even though obesity is a known risk factor for migraines. Researchers speculate that the drug may alleviate symptoms by reducing pressure within the skull, although further investigation is necessary to confirm this finding.
Overall, this development marks an important step forward in the ongoing quest for effective migraine relief, offering hope for many who suffer from this debilitating condition.