Diabetes Medication Shows Migraine Relief in Pilot Trial
GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide, typically prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, significantly reduced monthly migraine days and improved quality of life in patients according to a study presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025 and soon to be published in The Journal of Headache and Pain.
Migraines affect roughly one in seven people worldwide, often with debilitating impact. In this small pilot study, researchers from the Headache Center at the University of Naples "Federico II" administered liraglutide to 26 adults living with both obesity and chronic migraine (defined as 15 or more headache days per month). Over a 12-week period, participants experienced an average reduction of 11 headache days per month. The Migraine Disability Assessment Test scores also dropped by 35 points, reflecting a meaningful improvement in daily functioning.
Patients were carefully screened to exclude conditions like idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), ensuring the results were specific to migraine mechanisms. “Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly,” said lead researcher Dr. Simone Braca. “The benefit lasted for the full three-month observation period, even though weight loss was modest and statistically non-significant.”
Although liraglutide is known to reduce body weight, researchers confirmed that its effect on migraines was independent of weight loss. Instead, the team hypothesized that the medication’s ability to modulate cerebrospinal fluid pressure could be key. “We think that, by modulating cerebrospinal fluid pressure and reducing intracranial venous sinuses compression, these drugs produce a decrease in the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a key migraine-promoting peptide,” Dr. Braca explained.
Mild side effects such as nausea and constipation were reported in 38% of participants but did not lead to discontinuation.
Reference: https://www.ean.org/congress2025
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