Weight loss medications containing liraglutide could provide significant relief for millions of migraine sufferers, according to new research.
The Italian study found that these drugs, which are commonly prescribed for obesity, could reduce migraine frequency by nearly 50 per cent.
Scientists administered liraglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss treatments Victoza and Saxenda, to 31 obese adults experiencing chronic or frequent migraines.
The subsequent results were striking, with participants experiencing a notable reduction in both the frequency and severity of their debilitating headaches.
The study's participants noted a stark drop in migraine frequency and severity
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Such an unexpected benefit could transform treatment options for the estimated 20 million Britons who suffer from migraines.
The European study tracked participants over three months, during which their average monthly migraine days plummeted from 20 to just 11. Meanwhile, 15 patients experienced at least a 50 per cent reduction in migraine frequency.
Another seven participants saw their migraines decrease by 75 per cent, while one patient reported no headaches at all following the treatment.
The participants also reported their migraines became less disabling, enabling them to function better in work, educational and social environments.
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Patients received daily doses of liraglutide, starting at 0.6 milligrams for the first week before increasing to 1.2 milligrams for the rest of the four weeks.
The researchers believe the mechanism behind this improvement is related to cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
Lead study author and neurologist at the University of Naples Federico II Dr Simone Braca told ABC News: "An increased pressure of the spinal fluid in the brain may be one of the mechanisms underlying migraine."
Even minor accumulations of cerebrospinal fluid can exert pressure on brain veins and nerves, potentially triggering migraine, with the doctor adding: "And if we target this mechanism, this preliminary evidence suggests that it may be helpful for migraine."
Women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men
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The study, published in the journal Headache, focused on participants with a body mass index of at least 30 who had failed at least two standard migraine medications. The majority were female, with an average age of 45.
Migraines affect approximately one in five Britons, with women experiencing them at nearly two to three times that rate. Chronic migraine, defined as having at least 15 headache days monthly, impacts more than a million of those in the UK.
While 42 per cent of participants reported mild side effects including nausea and constipation, all continued with the medication.
However, the researchers acknowledged the limitations of their study, including the small sample size. Consequently, they called for future studies with extended follow-up periods and higher dose evaluations.
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