mmastrac a day ago

Looks like a CGRP blocker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcitonin_gene-related_peptid...) sold under the name Qulipta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atogepant):

> Since the discovery of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) in 1982, its integral role in migraine pathophysiology, specifically migraine pain, has been demonstrated through cumulative scientific discoveries that have led to the development and approval of migraine‐specific therapeutics. Today, eight drugs, including monoclonal antibodies and small molecule CGRP receptor antagonists, known as gepants, have received approval for acute or preventive treatment of migraine. The primary mechanism of these drugs is to block CGRP signaling, thus preventing CGRP‐mediated nociception and neurogenic inflammation. Here, we focus on atogepant, a highly potent and selective gepant and the first and only oral medication approved for the preventive treatment of both episodic and chronic migraine in adults. In this article, we summarize the role of CGRP in migraine pathophysiology and the mechanism of action of atogepant. In addition, we provide an overview of atogepant's pharmacology and the key clinical trials and outcomes that have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of atogepant.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10777605/

megaman821 21 hours ago

For me, CRGP blockers have been great. Triptans worked ok, but they have more side effects than CRGP blockers. Quilipta reduces the frequency of migraines for me and Nurtec is an effective acute treatment.

  • mholt 18 hours ago

    We've had a hard time getting Nurtec. (Is expensive, not to mention the hoops to go through to get it.) Worth the hassle then?

  • RossBencina 21 hours ago

    Prior to Qulipta, did you get any benefits from monoclonal antibodies targeting CGRP? So far I haven't. Periactin helps.

    • megaman821 21 hours ago

      I haven't tried the antibody injections but to some degree all CGRP blockers turn down or shut off my type of migraines. Only Rizatriptan worked for me in the triptan family of drugs without having to take multiple doses.

mkmk 19 hours ago

If you have had migraines most of your life and you haven’t recently visited a neurologist, do it! The treatments and medications that have come to market over the last 10 years are significantly better than what came before.

sebazzz 13 hours ago

My wife uses blood pressure medication to prevent migraines. It has been very succesful.

wtcactus 14 hours ago

Since I’m 11, I’ve had these horrible migraines. By the time I was 15, I had one almost every week.

They were terrible, the pain was unlike anything else I’ve went through in my life. One side of my body went numb, I became dislexic for part of its duration. Most of the times I also threw up. When I started seeing the aura that preceded the migraine, I knew I had to get home or to my hotel bedroom fast before the worst symptoms kicked in.

With age they became less frequent, but the symptoms became even worse. By now, in my 40s, I only get it about twice a year, so it’s simple to handle.

I’m a men. My father also has them but very rarely now that he is older.

The holy grail for people like us, would be a pill to take when the migraine starts that would reduce the severity (there is one, but doesn’t work with the aura variant I and my father have).