Great article on what is on the horizon for Migraines in Prevention Magazine

There is a great article in the May 2018 issue of Prevention Magazine about what is on the horizon for Migraine treatment. Migraines can really make a bad day even worse for many people. I, myself, have suffered from migraines since age 11. As I have gotten older, my migraines are less frequent, but I still feel just awful when I get them. I tend to just want to lay in my bed where it is quiet with the lights off in total darkness. Migraines can have many symptoms in additional to a terrible headache. Those symptoms can include stomach distress, sensitivity to noise and light and odors, fatigue, anxiety and depression among many others.

The article mentions that there is a new approach in treating migraines. Rather than prescribing medications like Triptans to take on the onset of a migraine, the new treatments are targeted at prevention. The new prevention medication is called CGRP which stands for calcitonin gene-related peptide. This medication is known to block pain in nerves so that inflammation can be reduced and chill the blood vessels. For people who respond to this new medication, it shows promise in the reduction of frequency of migraines per month and reduction of intensity.

As there has been much research and the FDA is moving forward on approval, the big pharmaceutical companies are starting to come out with their versions of CGRP medication. It sounds like injections are commonly prescribed. If you are a migraine sufferer, you may want to ask your doctor about this new medication.

To learn more, check out this great article in the May 2018 issue of Prevention Magazine! If you can’t find it on the news stands, then try your local library.

References:

Bernstein, Carolyn A. “CGRP: A New Era for Migraine Treatment.” Harvard Health Blog, 7 Feb. 2018, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cgrp-new-era-migraine-treatment-2018030513315.

McCaffery, Jen. “New Hope for Migraine.” Prevention, May 2018, pp. 60–67.