Could Ozempic treat migraines? Popular obesity drug shows promise in a small study

In the world of wellness and weight loss, Ozempic is one heck of a heavyweight name.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a well-known prescription drug that’s used to treat the blood sugar of people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is given as an injection under your skin, and it is also used to lower the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or death) in people who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

But what if a widely used medication for weight management and type 2 diabetes could also ease migraine – a neurological disorder that affects around 15% of people worldwide, and is characterized by debilitating headaches that can be accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and fatigue?


Ozempic (semaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist , is emerging as a strong contender to provide relief to migraine sufferers.

In a small study, the drug liraglutide reduced monthly migraine episodes by nearly half among people with obesity who experience the headache-inducing condition.

How? Read on to know.


The research:

A study led by Simone Braca, a neurologist at Federico II University in Naples, Italy, explored the effects of liraglutide on 31 people suffering from chronic migraines and obesity . All participants had previously tried at least two migraine prevention medications without success.


What is Liraglutide?

Liraglutide is a drug made by Novo Nordisk, the same company that produces semaglutide, known as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. Both drugs mimic a hormone called GLP-1, which helps control blood sugar and suppress appetite.

In this study, liraglutide was tested on the patients for 12 weeks. By the end of the trial, the average number of migraine days each month dropped from about 20 to just under 11 – a nearly 50% reduction. One participant even stopped having migraines entirely. While some individuals lost weight, the reduction in migraines did not appear to be linked to the amount of weight lost, indicating that liraglutide's impact on migraines was separate from its weight-loss effects.



The findings:

The results of the study were shared in June at the Congress of the European Association of Neurology and published in the journal Headache. The researchers concluded, “Our findings show that liraglutide may be effective in the treatment of unresponsive high-frequency or chronic migraine in patients with obesity.” GLP-1 drugs have been available for about 20 years, and newer ones like semaglutide and tirzepatide are more successful at helping with weight loss and blood sugar control compared to diet and exercise alone. Additionally, some studies suggest GLP-1s might help people with substance use disorders.

Chronic migraines are complicated, but one potential cause is increased pressure inside the skull. Since previous research has shown that GLP-1s can lower this pressure, the researchers believed these drugs could help treat migraines.



What is migraine?

Migraines are intense headaches often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. They can come with warning signs and be triggered by factors such as hormonal changes, certain foods or drinks, stress, and even exercise. Common symptoms include throbbing pain in one area, nausea, and sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). Medications can help manage migraines.


The road ahead:

The researchers noted this was just a preliminary study and not meant to draw definitive conclusions. Important questions remain, such as whether newer GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide would also effectively relieve migraine-related pressure. Lanfranco Pellesi, a headache specialist from the University of Southern Denmark, who did not participate in the study, pointed out that without a control group, some of the observed reduction in headaches might be due to the placebo effect. However, he mentioned that the findings are promising enough to warrant a randomized controlled trial to further investigate this hypothesis. Given the challenges in treating migraines, discovering new therapeutic options could be extremely valuable.