“New Migraine Treatment: Atogepant Offers Hope for Severe Head Pain Relief”
Health experts estimate that up to 170,000 individuals in Migraine England could find relief from severe head pain through atogepant, which has been proposed for those who have not responded well to other treatments or are unable to tolerate injections.
Migraine
Described as a positive development by a charity, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended atogepant in tablet form based on clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy in some adults.
NICE suggests offering atogepant to individuals who have not had success with three other medications, many of which require injection or infusion.
Distinguishing between a headache and can be challenging, with migraines often presenting more severe symptoms like dizziness, light sensitivity, and difficulty speaking. It’s estimated that around six million people in the UK suffer from migraines, with a higher prevalence among women.
Atogepant, intended for daily use, aims to prevent both chronic migraines (more than 15 times a month) and episodic migraines (occurring between four and 15 times a month). Initially, it will be accessible through specialist doctors in secondary care settings rather than general practitioners.
While welcomed by the Trust, concerns persist about access to new drugs due to limited awareness among doctors and lengthy specialist waiting lists. Ensuring swift access to treatments is crucial for patients’ well-being, asserts Rob Music, the charity’s chief executive.
Atogepant, a novel anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) drug, is tailored to alleviate migraines by targeting the CGRP protein receptor, which is implicated in inflammation and pain. With fewer side effects compared to older medications, atogepant follows the introduction of similar drugs like rimegepant in England and Scotland.
For Deborah Sloan from Brighton, rimegepant transformed her life after enduring chronic migraines for four decades. While the drug restored her ability to work, she initially faced challenges accessing it privately due to long specialist referral waits. With atogepant set to become available on the NHS in England next month, hopes are high for improved management for many.
