New Drug Injections May Help Prevent Migraines, Scientists Claim | HuffPost Life

New Drug Injections May Help Prevent Migraines, Scientists Claim

The Huffington Post UK

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If you're one of the millions of migraine sufferers in the UK, hope may be on the horizon.

Preliminary trials are underway for two drugs that may help prevent migraines among frequent sufferers, scientists have revealed.

The drugs - one given by IV and one by injection - halved migraine attacks during clinical trials that lasted for several weeks.

Although further testing is required before the drugs will be considered for NHS use, the recent developments show potential for a drastic change in treatment for migraine sufferers.

A migraine is usually a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or on one side of the head, although sufferers have reported different symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light, according to the NHS.

Migraine is a common health condition that affects around 15% of adults in the UK, three quarters of whom are women.

See Also:
All You Need To Know About Migraines: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Migraines 'Increase Risk Of Permanent Brain Damage'

In the trial, scientists targeted a tiny protein called the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is key in processing pain during migraines.

The participants were split into two groups.

In the first group, 81 patients were given a single IV dose of the drug ALD403 and 82 were given a placebo. The former group saw a 66% reduction in the number of migraines over the next eight weeks while 16% stopped having migraines entirely. The placebo group reported a 52% decrease in migraine frequency.

In the second group, 217 people were given fortnightly injections of LY2951742 drug and reported a fall of 63%.

Story continues below...

Natural Ways To Ease Migraines

Feverfew(01 of15)

One of the oldest herbal remedies for migraines, this plant can be used in many forms, included steeped in tea or even eaten raw, according to Alexander Mauskop, M.D., a board-certified neurologist focused on headaches and the director and founder of the New York Headache Center. That's because it contains a powerful chemical called parthenolide, which has been linked to warding off migraines, although Mauskop says science hasn't really offered an answer yet as to how or why,One of the first studies of the herb came out of Great Britain in the 1980s, and found that 70 percent of people who chewed a couple of feverfew leaves each day saw their symptoms improve and experienced fewer migraines, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.In supplement form -- as long as it contains at least 0.2 percent parthenolides -- 100 to 150 milligrams a day may do the trick, according to a HuffPost blog by Dr. Andrew Weil, because it can help "prevent the release of substances that dilate blood vessels in the head." (credit:Alamy)

Butterbur(02 of15)

Unlike feverfew, this herb is toxic in any form but the processed supplement, says Mauskop.However, its headache-preventing properties are equally impressive. The chemicals in butterbur are thought to relieve spasms and decrease inflammation, which can cause headaches, according to WebMD. A small 2004 study found that patients who took 75 milligrams of butterbur twice daily had 48 percent fewer migraines, compared to a 26 percent decrease experienced by people given only a placebo. While it's been predominantly researched as a preventive measure, there's some preliminary evidence that it can also help beat a migraine as it's happening. Taking 100 milligrams every three hours (up to 300 milligrams in 24 hours) just might do the trick, according to Psychology Today. (credit:Alamy)

Magnesium(03 of15)

Mauskop's own research found that people with migraines and cluster headaches are often deficient in magnesium.He demonstrated that an infusion of the mineral helped to stop the pain. Of course, an infusion isn't the most practical of treatments when you're struck by a migraine at the office, say, but supplements can also help. One small study found daily magnesium supplements reduced migraine frequency by nearly 42 percent, compared to only about 16 percent in people given a placebo pill. Some people have trouble absorbing magnesium, says Mauskop, which can lead to the unpleasant side effect of diarrhea, but overall it's considered safe in 200 milligram daily doses, he says. Flickr photo by fdecomite (credit:Flickr: fdecomite)

Riboflavin(04 of15)

This B vitamin -- found naturally in foods like milk, meat, nuts and green veggies -- was linked to migraine prevention in a small 1998 study, but in a very high dose, writes Weil, one that would need to be prescribed by a doctor. Riboflavin (and an enzyme that acts similarly called CoQ10) is involved in producing energy inside the cells of the body, Mauskop explains, so it's better to take in the morning to ward off migraines, in case it disrupts sleep. (credit:Alamy)

Omega 3s(05 of15)

A dose of these healthy fats can fight inflammation, which is a likely culprit in many headaches and possibly some migraines. Everyday Health recommends flax seeds but fish, like salmon, and fish oil supplements may also help. "There are so many other benefits of omega 3s, even if it doesn't help your headaches, there's no reason not to try it," says Mauskop.Flickr photo by http://www.samcatchesides.com/ (credit:Flickr: http://www.samcatchesides.com/)

Sniff Peppermint(06 of15)

As anyone who gets headaches knows, certain smells can trigger the pain. But peppermint in particular seems to have pain-reducing effects, says Mauskop. "It's very individual," he says, and may not work for everyone. Or, it could just mask less pleasant smells. (credit:Alamy)

Ginger(07 of15)

This spice is well-known for being friendly to upset stomachs, and it can ease migraine-related nausea, too, says Mauskrop. It may also ease pain thanks to some anti-inflammatory properties. Just be sure you're getting the real thing, he says -- ginger ale doesn't cut it. Flickr photo by mfdudu (credit:Flickr: mfdudu)

Rubbing The Temples(08 of15)

There may not be a body of research to support a simple head rub, but there's no denying it feels good! People instinctively rub their temples in the throes of a headache, and if it works for them, why not? "Whatever feels good, do that!" says Mauskop. (credit:Alamy)

Massage(09 of15)

In a similar vein, a whole-body massage can help, too. Part of that is likely due to the stress relief, as tension is a known headache trigger. A small study found that frequent migraine sufferers had fewer headaches following six weekly massage sessions. However, it's likely that you'd have to continue the relaxing practice -- indefinitely -- which could get pricey! (credit:Alamy)

Meditation(10 of15)

One way to reap the stress-reducing benefits for free is a quiet meditation practice, says Mauskop, who lists meditation as one of his top two natural migraine treatments. There remains little concrete evidence that meditation in particular can ease the pain, Health.com reported, but it is certainly a proven stress reliever. (credit:Alamy)

Drink More Water(11 of15)

Plenty of headaches are triggered by dehydration -- so much so that Mauskop says he has patients who will quickly drink a few glasses of H2O when they feel a migraine coming on, and actually stop it in its tracks. "They know to catch it early," he says, "that definitely can help."Not a huge water fan? There are plenty of ways to snazz up a glass or trick yourself into sipping more throughout the day here. Flickr photo by Greg Riegler Photography (credit:Flickr: Greg Riegler Photography)

Acupuncture(12 of15)

There have been mixed results in the research examining this ancient Chinese medicine's effect on migraines. Most recently, a study questioned whether the traditional practice offered much more than a placebo effect, perhaps due to the extra attention lavished by the acupuncturist. Proponents maintain that the needles trigger pain-reducing chemicals, Reuters reported, but all those visits could become time consuming and expensive, points out Mauskop. A DIY altnerative might be acupressure, he says. Try pressing on the webbed space between your thumb and pointer finger. It may only be temporary, but it can offer relief. (credit:Alamy)

Caffeine(13 of15)

"Caffeine is a double-edged sword," says Mauskop. If you're too dependent on multiple cups of coffee a day (or even frequent doses of certain headache medications formulated with caffeine) you're likely to experience rebound headaches when the jolt starts to wane. However, in small doses, a little bit can help reduce pain. Flickr photo by OiMax (credit:Flickr: OiMax)

Regular Exercise(14 of15)

Along with meditation, Mauskrop calls staying active one of his top two most effective ways to prevent and treat migraines. Of course, many people are in too much pain in the middle of a headache to even think about heading to the gym. But a few people have told him when they feel something coming on, they can go out for a jog and avoid the migraine altogether. "It relaxes you, it releases endorphins," he says. Last year, a small Swedish study attempted to find out just how good exercise is at preventing migraines and discovered a solid sweat session was just as effective as migraine medications at keeping the debilitating headaches at bay. Flickr photo by Dafydd359 (credit:Flickr: Dafydd359)

Cool Down -- And Warm Up(15 of15)

Many people will feel a chill when they get a migraine, explains Mauskop, while at the same time their heads feel "hot and cloudy" he says. For some temporary relief, try reversing the feelings -- cool your head with an ice pack while warming the body in the bath, he suggests. Granted, it's not very practical unless you're at home and have plenty of time, he says, but dilating the blood vessels in the body may help blood flow away from the head and reduce some of the pain, he says. (credit:Alamy)

Despite the exciting findings, experts stress the need for further investigation.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that a new era of mechanism-based migraine prevented is beginning,” David Dodick, of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, lead author of the second study, said in a statement.

“Migraine remains poorly treated and there are few effective and well — tolerated treatments approved that prevent attacks from occurring. There is a huge treatment need for migraine — the third most common and seventh most disabling medical disorder in the world.”

Andrew Dowson, chairman of the medical advisory board for the charity Migraine Action, told The Times: “There are still many hurdles to overcome with regards to testing efficacy, side effects and also how economically viable the treatment will be for patients, and, even if successful, it will be some years before patients can access these options.

“However, research into migraine is badly needed and we welcome these new studies. We will continue to monitor the progress of this particular group of drugs with interest.”

The findings were presented at American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in Philadelphia.

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