Daijiworld Media Network- Naples

Naples, Jul 1: Already a household name in diabetes and weight management, Ozempic (semaglutide) may soon find another surprising role — as a potential treatment for chronic migraines, a condition that affects millions globally with debilitating headaches, nausea, and light sensitivity.

In a small but promising study led by Dr. Simone Braca, neurologist at Federico II University in Naples, Italy, a related GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, liraglutide, significantly reduced monthly migraine days among obese individuals who had found no relief from conventional migraine medications.

The study involved 31 patients who suffered from chronic migraines and obesity and had previously tried at least two preventive treatments without success. Over a 12-week period, participants were administered liraglutide — a drug from the same pharmaceutical family as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy). The results were dramatic: average monthly migraine days dropped from 20 to under 11, a nearly 50% reduction. In one exceptional case, the participant reported complete cessation of migraines.

Importantly, while some participants experienced weight loss, researchers clarified that migraine improvement was not directly linked to weight loss, suggesting the drug's neurological effects were key.

Both liraglutide and semaglutide mimic GLP-1, a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. But emerging research also suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may lower intracranial pressure — a possible trigger in migraine pathology.

The findings, presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress in June and published in the journal Headache, have sparked cautious optimism in the neurology community. Dr. Lanfranco Pellesi, a headache specialist from the University of Southern Denmark, welcomed the results but urged larger, randomized controlled trials, noting the lack of a control group in the initial study.

While the study centered on liraglutide, scientists are now keen to explore whether semaglutide (Ozempic) — known for its stronger effects on metabolism — might offer similar or even enhanced migraine relief.

With migraines remaining a complex and under-treated neurological disorder, experts see this breakthrough as a potential game-changer. If future trials confirm these findings, GLP-1 drugs could soon be at the forefront of migraine management, bringing much-needed hope to millions battling this chronic condition.