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.”