Dr. Ahmed Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, may also help reduce chronic migraine attacks, even without significant weight loss, according to a new pilot study.
This unexpected benefit could provide relief for patients who don’t respond well to traditional migraine treatments, especially those who are obese or overweight.
For millions of people, migraines are more than just headaches, as they can be disabling. The intense pain, sensitivity to light, and nausea can stop people from working, socializing, or actually getting out of bed.
While many meds exist, a large number of patients just do not get enough relief, especially those with frequent migraines.
But now, a small study has found that a drug usually used for weight loss might also help reduce migraine attacks without needing major weight loss to work.
This unexpected benefit comes from a study that even suggests that the drug liraglutide could give a new path forward for those suffering from migraines.
What is Liraglutide and How Does It Work?
Liraglutide belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are basically used to manage type 2 diabetes and aid weight loss.
You may know them by brand names like Victoza or Saxenda. These drugs work by affecting appetite, insulin release, and other systems in the body.
But this study shows that liraglutide might reduce migraine frequency even when it does not cause much weight loss.
That is a big deal because it suggests the drug might act on the neurological pathways involved in migraine and not just by changing weight or metabolism.
Patient Selection for Liraglutide Migraine Trial
The study took place in Naples, Italy, from January to July 2024. Researchers enrolled 31 adults, 26 women and 5 men, who were all living with obesity and were suffering from chronic or high-frequency episodic migraines.
These patients were having at least 8 headache days per month and had already tried two or more preventive migraine medications, including some of the newest drugs like anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.
To make sure the results were focused purely on migraine, the researchers excluded people with conditions like idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which can mimic migraine symptoms.
Study Design: How Liraglutide Was Tested for Migraine Relief
Participants were given daily injections of liraglutide under the skin. The dose started low, 0.6 mg per day in the first week, and was increased to 1.2 mg daily afterward.
The treatment lasted 12 weeks. During the study, patients continued their existing migraine medications.
To track improvement, participants kept a headache diary to record how many days they had headaches each month.
They also filled out a questionnaire called MIDAS (migraine disability assessment) which measures how migraines affect a person’s daily life and ability to work or socialize. Authors also checked each person’s weight and BMI at the start and end of the study.
Key Results: Liraglutide Significantly Reduces Migraine Frequency
After 12 weeks of treatment, the average number of monthly headache days (MHDs) dropped from 19.8 days to 10.7 days which is a reduction of 9.1 days per month.
That is a statistically significant and clinically important change for people with frequent migraines.
Nearly half the participants (48%) saw at least a 50% reduction in their number of migraine days. Around 23% had a 75% or greater drop, and one person reported having no migraines at all by the end of the study. These are some great results for people who had not responded to other treatments.
Moreover, patients also reported a big improvement in daily functioning. The average MIDAS score fell from 60.4 to 28.6, showing that migraines were interfering much less with daily life, work, or social activities. This shows that the drug did not just cut headache days; it actually helped people live better lives.
About 42% of participants had mild side effects, mostly nausea and constipation. But no one had to stop treatment, and these symptoms usually improved over time. This suggests that liraglutide was generally well tolerated.
Not Just About Weight: How Liraglutide Works in Surprising Ways
Interestingly, the study found that these benefits had nothing to do with weight loss. The average BMI only changed slightly, from 34.0 to 33.9, and this was not statistically significant. That means liraglutide was likely working through other pathways.
Researchers suggest that the drug might reduce migraine activity by affecting intracranial pressure (pressure inside the skull) or influencing CGRP, which is a key molecule that plays a role in triggering migraines.
The fact that age, sex, and other medications did not affect results also shows that liraglutide’s effects may work across a broad range of people.
What does this mean for the future?
This was a pilot study, meaning it was small and more research is still needed. But the results are exciting and suggest that liraglutide could become a new option for people with obesity and chronic migraines who have not found relief with current treatments.
Most existing migraine drugs work by blocking CGRP, a pain-related molecule. Liraglutide might take a different approach, possibly by preventing CGRP release or changing pressure in the brain.
This opens the door for new ways to treat migraines, especially for those who don’t respond to standard medications.
The idea of repurposing existing drugs like liraglutide for other conditions is also exciting because it speeds up the time it takes to find safe, effective treatments.
Since liraglutide is already approved for diabetes and weight loss, doctors are already familiar with how to use it and manage side effects.
Summary:
This pilot study suggests that liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, could offer significant relief to patients suffering from chronic or high-frequency episodic migraines, even without major weight loss.
With nearly half the participants experiencing at least a 50% reduction in monthly migraine days, liraglutide may represent a new migraine treatment option for those with obesity and poor response to standard therapies.
Larger clinical trials are needed, but these findings open doors for repurposing diabetes and weight loss medications for neurological conditions like migraine.
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