Dr. Howard Smith Reports

A New Drug Strategy For Preventing Migraine Headaches


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Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DBuF7AgNVJX/


The American Headache Society is just out with a position statement recommending the use of anti-CGRP drug therapy for the prevention of migraines.  Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptides, CGRPs for short, have been recognized as drivers of these devastating headaches.  A meta-analysis of the studies that tested the drugs that block them have proven their effectiveness.


These drugs include the antibodies erenumab, marketed as Aimovig, galcanezumab, branded as Emgality, fremanezumab, marketed as Ajovy, and epitinezumab, branded Vyepti.  Also extremely effective are the gepant drugs atogepant, marketed Qulipta, zavegepant, branded Zavzpret, rimegepant, marketed as Nurtec, and ubrogepant, marketed as Ubrelvy.


Neurologists specializing in the management of headaches have embraced the use of these drugs.  They now recommend their use to primary care physicians who manage 75% of patients with migraine headaches.  If you are a migraine sufferer, do ask your medical team about these medications.


https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/head.14692

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/new-first-line-therapies-migraine-2024a1000edv


#migraines #CGRP #antibodies #gepants #prevention #headaches


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Dr. Howard Smith ReportsBy Howard G. Smith MD, AM