Can CGRP Inhibitors Help My Migraines? What You Need to Know

Millions of people suffer from migraines, intense headaches that can involve other symptoms, like nausea, light sensitivity, and fatigue. Managing migraines can be challenging, particularly if your migraines don’t respond to traditional therapies. But today, researchers are turning to CGRP inhibitors, a novel therapy that’s helping women and men lessen the severity and frequency of treatment-resistant migraines.

As a leading primary care practice in Texas, MyHomeDoc is a top provider of migraine treatments, including CGRP inhibitor therapy. In this post, learn more about CGRP inhibitor therapy and how it can help you enjoy more migraine-free days.

Understanding migraines

Most everyone has headaches from time to time, and while unpleasant, most are manageable and temporary in nature. But migraines are different. These headaches can be severe and intense, and they’re often accompanied by other unpleasant side effects, like sensitivity to light or sound or even vomiting. Some migraines involve changes in vision, a complication known as ocular migraine.

Even though migraines are very common, researchers still aren’t sure what causes them or why some people are affected while others aren’t. They believe migraines likely involve multiple factors, including abnormal nerve signaling, circulation changes, and alterations in hormones and other chemicals called neurotransmitters.

The complexity of migraines means they can also be difficult to treat. While traditional treatments may help some individuals manage the intensity or frequency of their headaches, others find management far more challenging, leaving them prone to chronic, disruptive headaches that can significantly affect their quality of life.

CGRP inhibitor therapy: How it works

CGRP stands for calcitonin gene-related peptide, a type of protein found in the brain and central nervous system. CGRP plays a key role in migraine incidence and intensity by promoting inflammatory and circulatory changes in the brain, leading to migraine flare-ups.

CGRP inhibitors are a newer type of medication that works by blocking nerve receptors that are sensitive to CGRP and its effects. By preventing CGRP proteins from binding with specific nerve receptors, CGRP inhibitors interrupt the chemical cycle that causes migraine symptoms. 

This is important, because traditionally, medications used to treat migraines were originally developed for other conditions, like antidepressants or anti-seizure medications. In fact, the Association of Migraine Disorders hails CGRP inhibitors as the first drugs developed specifically for migraine prevention.

In addition to preventing migraines, CGRP inhibitors are also used to alleviate episodes of acute migraines. The medication is available orally or by injection for migraine prevention, or as an oral or nasal medication for treating acute symptoms.

Find relief for your migraines

While CGRP inhibitors can’t cure migraines, they do mark a major step forward in preventing attacks and lessening symptoms. 

To find out more about CGRP inhibitors and how they can play a role in your migraine management plan, request an appointment at our practice locations in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and Victoria, Texas, or via telehealth today.