In a new observational study, patients with migraine given a daily dose of liraglutide, a popular GLP-1 receptor agonist, reported significantly fewer headache days and an improved quality of life.
GLP-1 medications may help people with chronic migraine lead a more pain-free life, a new study suggests.
Researchers found GLP-1 therapy helps reduce migraine frequency — regardless of weight loss. Their observational study included 26 adults with obesity and chronic migraine who were given 1.2 milligrams of the drug liraglutide daily for 12 weeks.
Chronic migraine is defined as having 15 or more headache days per month.
The participants kept migraine diaries and at the end of the monitoring period reported an average of 11 fewer attacks per month.
The lead investigator says, “Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly.”
Plus, he says, the benefit lasted for the full three months, even though weight loss was statistically non-significant.
The researchers say GLP-1 meds may help fight migraines by reducing brain fluid pressure and slowing the release of a key migraine-promoting peptide.
A randomized, double-blind trial that also measures intracranial pressure is now being planned.
Source: European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025
Author Affiliations: University of Naples
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