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HeadWay Issue #205 Six "Newer" Migraine-Stopping Treatments September 21, 2021 |
| Hi! In this issue: Six "Newer" Migraine-Stopping TreatmentsRecently At Headache and Migraine NewsSay what?! Heat ExhaustionSix "Newer" Migraine-Stopping MedicationsIf you've been taking the same migraine "painkillers" for many years, and they only work some of the time, you might want to consider some of the newer treatments that are available.But first, a couple of explanations. Not all of these treatments are completely new to the market. However, they were all approved by the FDA in the USA over the past 2 years specifically to take for a migraine attack. These are all abortive treatments, treatments that are taken to stop a migraine attack. 1) Celecoxib (Elyxyb) - Celecoxib is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) called a Cox-2 inhibitor. Some of you may remember that after these drugs hit the market, serious concerns of cardiovascular side effects emerged - and frankly, the controversy is far from over. However, unlike valdecoxib and refocoxib, this on is still expanding to new markets. This one is a liquid that you drink. Bottom line: It seems to help some people, but it won't be your first choice, especially if you're at risk for heart issues. 2) Lasmiditan (Reyvow) - Lasmiditan was the first approved "ditan" medication, a serotonin (5-HT) 1F receptor agonist. In other words, this may be a good choice if you're looking for a different approach from what you've tried before. Lasmiditan is an oral medication. It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. 3) Nerivio - Nerivio is not a medication, but a remote electrical neuromodulation device. It's worn on the arm and operated through an app. So far, it seems to have an excellent safety record, and will be a good choice for those trying to avoid acute medication.4) Rimegepant (Nurtec) - Rimegepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, taken orally. Another new type of medication, Nurtec is actually approved as both an abortive and a preventative. 5) Trudhesa - Trudhesa is a brand name for a new formulation of DHE. DHE is not new - in fact, it's the oldest medication on the list. But Trudhesa is the newest, having been approved just this month. Trudhesa is a nasal spray, and it uses a special new delivery system, which means faster absorption and less waste. 6) Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) - Ubrogepant is in the same class as remegepant (a "gepant") as you might have guessed. It's taken orally. Recently At Headache and Migraine NewsA few new articles to check out:
Say what?! Acute vs. AbortiveWhile I have used the word "abortive" above for these treatments, you'll often see "acute treatment" if you read about these medications online."Abortive" treatments "abort" something, in this case, a migraine attack. In other words, they don't prevent the attack. You usually hear the word "acute" referring to an illness. An acute illness usually appears quickly and lasts for a short period of time (depending on the illness, this could mean a few hours or a few weeks). In other words, the illness is not "chronic". An acute treatment is simply a short term treatment. In this case, the medication is given temporarily - often in one or two doses - to fight a specific migraine attack (whether your migraine overall is "chronic" or "episodic". So for our purposes, an acute treatment and an abortive treatment will be the same thing. Thanks for reading! Remember, if you have feedback or ideas for future issues, visit the HeadWay MailRoom. Your password is nomoache. |
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