Ozempic-style drug could be used to treat migraines, research finds

Thursday, 3 July 2025 19:20

Around five million Australians suffer from migraines, with women three times more likely to be affected than men

New research has found an Ozempic-type drug could be the key to chronic migraine relief.

About 5 million Australians suffer from migraines, with women three times more likely to be affected than men.

If untreated, the pain can be debilitating and can last from a few hours to three days.

While avoiding triggers like alcohol and cheese can help prevent attacks, there are also new medications which could relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of migraines.

However, some medications aren't effective and plenty of Australians still suffer in silence.

A small Italian study found three months of treatment using an Ozempic-adjacent drug named Liraglutide, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, is effective for migraine patients.

The mean number of migraine days suffered per month halved from 20 per cent to 11 per cent in patients.

"It's a very encouraging study that shows there may be some potential here for a new treatment class," director of operations at Migraine and Headache Australia Carl Cincinnato told 9News.

While obesity is a risk factor for migraines, weight loss doesn't appear to be the reason why this medication worked.

Study investigators believe it could be from reducing pressure in the skull, however more research needs to done.

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