Weight loss drug can reduce migraine days by half: new study

Next-generation weight loss drugs may do more than shrink your waistline.

A new study suggests that a medication in the same family as Ozempic could cut the number of days people suffer from migraines by more than half.

“Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly,” said Dr. Simone Braca, a neurologist at the University of Naples Federico II and lead author of the study. 

Researchers tested liraglutide, a medication that mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar, suppress appetite and aid digestion.

The drug is currently marketed as Victoza for Type 2 diabetes and as Saxenda for long-term weight management in people with obesity.

The researchers gave liraglutide to 31 adults with obesity and chronic migraines, defined as 15 or more headache days per month.

Before joining the study, each participant had tried at least two other migraine-prevention drugs without success.

After taking a daily 1.8 milligram dose of liraglutide for three months, their average headache days dropped from 20 to about nine per month.

Participants also saw a 35-point drop on the Migraine Disability Assessment Test, which signals a meaningful improvement in their work, school and social life.

“The benefit lasted for the full three-month observation period, even though weight loss was modest and statistically non-significant,” Braca said.

Rather than weight loss easing migraines, researchers believe the drug works by lowering the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid — the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

“An increased pressure of the spinal fluid in the brain may be one of the mechanisms underlying migraine,” Braca told ABC News. “If we target this mechanism, this preliminary evidence suggests it may help migraine sufferers.”

The drug was generally well-tolerated, with about 38% of participants reporting mild side effects like nausea and constipation, but none stopped treatment because of them.

“Our findings show liraglutide may be effective for treating stubborn, high-frequency migraines in patients with obesity, and that this effect is independent of weight loss,” the researchers concluded in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

The team is planning a larger follow-up study to measure brain pressure more directly.

“We also want to see if other GLP-1 drugs can provide similar relief, possibly with fewer gastrointestinal side effects,” Braca noted.

More than just a bad headache

At least 39 million Americans suffer from migraines, but the American Migraine Foundation estimates the true number is likely higher since many go undiagnosed.

The debilitating neurological condition causes throbbing head pain that can last hours or even days, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, vision changes and sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraines can take a serious toll on daily life, often leading to missed work or school, reduced productivity, strained relationships and even withdrawal from social events and hobbies.

On top of that, migraines are strongly linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges — and they’re associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Scientists don’t yet know exactly what causes migraines, but genetics play a big role: up to 80% of sufferers have a close family member who also has the condition, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

There’s still no cure for migraines. While some medications can ease symptoms, they don’t work for everyone. That’s why this new study has experts buzzing.

“These patients were dealing with at least 15 headache days a month, and on average, they had 11 fewer days after taking the medication for just three months,” Dr. Luis Felipe Tornes, a neurologist, told Medical News Today. 

“That’s life-changing for someone living with near-constant pain,” he added, noting that the drug’s possible role in reducing brain pressure “opens up a whole new way to think about treating migraines.”