For people with frequent, debilitating migraine headaches I have encouraging news. The FDA recently approved three new medications — erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), and galcanezumab (Emgality) — the first drugs designed specifically to prevent migraines and reduce their frequency, intensity, and duration and now in 2020 we have 2 new types of rescue/abortive migraine medicines, REYVOW lasmiditan (Revyow) and Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy).
There are big developments with the new migraine prevention drugs. These new medications have low side effects unlike the older medications which may cause weight gain, dizziness, or fuzzy thinking which all too often causes people with migraines to stop taking the medication. The CGRP inhibitor galcanezumab (Emgality) can also be used to treat cluster headaches.
Most of the new migraine prevention medications are in a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. They are "targeted" therapies that seek out and interfere with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein that inflames nerve endings and is involved in the development of migraines.
People who have four or more attacks per month, or eight or more headache days per month and have failed prior medications are candidates for most these drugs.
If you struggle with migraines come and see us at the NeuroWellness clinic in Edmond and try some new approaches.