A new study has found that taking a drug called ‘ubrogepant’, even before the headache starts, may help people with migraine to maintain their daily lives with minimal impact.
The study focused on people with migraine who experienced early symptoms, known as prodrome symptoms, such as sensitivity to light and sound, fatigue, neck pain or stiffness, or dizziness. The recent online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, revealed that ubrogepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, or CGRP inhibitor plays a major role in the migraine process.
Richard B. Lipton, MD – Albert Einstein College of Medicine, fellow – American Academy of Neurology
“Migraine is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, yet so many people who suffer from this condition do not receive treatment or report that they are not satisfied with their treatment. Improving care at the first signs of migraine, even before headache pain begins, can be a key to improved outcomes. Our findings are encouraging, suggesting that ubrogepant may help people with migraine function normally and go about their day.”
Researchers conducted the study on 518 participants who experienced migraine for at least one year and 2-8 migraine attacks per month in the last three months before the study. Participants were then split into two groups. The first group received a placebo for their first migraine symptoms, followed by taking 100 milligrams (mg) of ubrogepant for their second instance of symptoms, while the second group received ubrogepant for the first instance and placebo for the second instance.
In addition, participants were also instructed to rate their activity limitations in their diary using a scale, with 0 meaning “not at all limited — I could do everything”; 1, “a little limited”; 2, “somewhat limited”; 3, “very limited”; or 4, “extremely limited.”
Twenty-four hours after the treatment, 65 percent of participants who took ubrogepant rated “not at all limited — I could do everything,” or “a little limited,” compared to 48 percent of participants who took the placebo. The study revealed that people who received ubrogepant were 73 percent more likely to report that they had “no disability, able to function normally,” than those who took the placebo.
“Based on our findings, treatment with ubrogepant may allow people with migraine who experience early warning signs before a migraine occurs to quickly treat migraine attacks in their earliest stages and go about their daily lives with little discomfort and disruption. This could lead to an improved quality of life for those living with migraine,” added Lipton.
The study limitation was the dependence on self-reported data through electronic diaries, which may be subject to inaccurate or incomplete recording of symptoms and medication use. The study was funded by AbbVie, the maker of ubrogepant.
