Migraine: FDA Approves Drug To Prevent It
An innovative drug was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, known as the FDA. These are some injections that have the ability to prevent migraines and are applied monthly. The name of this drug is Aimovig, although generically it is called Erenumab.
Why is medication important to prevent migraines?
Having more options for treating migraines offers solutions to those who know the distressing effects of this disease. While it may seem incomprehensible to many, having to lock yourself in a dark and silent room to mitigate the unbearable pain it causes is a horrible situation.
The severity of migraine is such that, in 2012, the World Health Organization declared it a debilitating disease. Until then, those who suffered from it had to endure accusations to break their commitments for “trivial headaches”. Nothing further from reality.
This disease has an important genetic root; in fact, it affects women more. In other words, it is not due to certain lifestyle habits, nor to stress; it is for this reason that prevention is the best of the alternatives to come to terms with it.
How does Aimovig work?
The results of this wonderful drug were exhibited at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Essentially, according to the specialist digital journal IFL Science, its main benefit is that it prevents migraines from appearing instead of attacking them once they occur.
At this event, it was reported that its effect is so long-lasting that it can be applied monthly and that you don’t even need to take pills. A monthly injection of 70 to 140 milligrams is sufficient.
This dose blocks the molecules that transmit the symptoms of migraine, which are the ones that cause the intense pain characteristic of this disease.
Side effects and price
According to medical publications, the side effects of this drug are negligible. However, its benefits are not guaranteed in the same way for all patients.
In the research presented, one third of the patients showed significant improvements; only a few claimed that the symptoms had completely disappeared and, finally, several of them found less potent palliative effects.
Not very accessible
Unfortunately, we also have to say that it’s not all sunshine and roses. The price of this drug is high, which is why it will not be easy to access without social coverage.
The company that produces it, Amgen, has announced that the price of each injection is 575 USD. In Europe, meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency is evaluating the approval of this drug; if its entry is enabled, the value will depend on the negotiations between Amgen and the public health systems.
In a statement, the American company defended the high value of its product, arguing that it will have a very positive impact, both for patients and for healthcare professionals. The positive financial implications that a drug of this type would generate were also expressed.
Other medications to prevent migraines
Obviously, this is not the first alternative proposed to prevent migraines. There are other methods previously approved by the FDA, such as methysergide, propranolol, timolol and sodium divalproex.
However, their use can generate side effects; therefore, it is imperative that a physician evaluate the results to adjust the doses or discontinue administration if necessary .
Numbers and data on migraine
Symptoms of migraine, which include nausea, sensitivity to light and stinging pain in the skull, affect more than 10% of the European population. Furthermore: more than 1% of these suffer from it at least once every three days.
In many of these cases it is possible to treat these symptoms with conventional and even homemade drugs, but there are also those who see their daily life severely compromised by the negative effects of this disease on their mood.
Some data that must be taken into account on this disease are:
- It affects 1 in 10 people.
- It usually occurs after the age of 20, but children can also suffer from it.
- There are several types , which differ according to the area of the brain they attack.
- The most severe and intense is neuralgic migraine.
- Although the cause is genetic, the trigger can be any internal or external stimulus. It is advisable to note the possible causes of migraine episodes.
For all that we have exposed, and also considering the millions of people suffering from this disease around the world, it is heartening to reduce these numbers, albeit little by little. If alternatives like Aimovig continue to emerge, for sure thousands of individuals will live better.
