Reaching the Nadir of Medication Overuse in Chronic Migraine

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 9;19(22):14696. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214696.

Abstract

The introduction of new drug classes for chronic migraine, such as monoclonal antibodies for calcitonin-gene-related peptide or its receptor (CGRPr), or antagonists of the same CGRP, have opened a new scenario in a selected population of individuals with migraine, and those presenting with chronic form of migraine in association with medication overuse. Medication overuse is now considered a complication of chronic migraine and, in fact, the treatment with CGRP(r)-MAbs of chronic migraine with medication overuse results in a clinical improvement of chronic migraine itself, accompanied by a parallel and obvious reduction in the intake of specific and non-specific acute migraine drugs. Education on the correct use of these drugs will be an essential tool to reduce the disability and costs of people suffering from CM complicated by MO, considering the long-term safety of the new therapies targeting the CGRP pathways. Only in this way can medication overuse risk can be reduced at its nadir in the scenario of chronicity of migraines.

Keywords: calcitonin gene related peptide; chronic migraine; ditans; gepants; medication overuse.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological* / therapeutic use
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders* / drug therapy
  • Prescription Drug Overuse

Substances

  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.