New Anti-Migraine Drugs To Hit The Market Soon

Scientists have come up with new anti-migraine drugs which follow a different approach all together, than the already existing ones, to counter this widespread problem. The new age drugs come with fewer side effects and are expected to hit the markets within three years

Taking an insight into the mechanism behind this hereditary head splitting pain, the new drugs would bring in a revolution in migraine pain management.

Migraine results from over stimulation of the brain due to external triggers such as climatic change, hunger, stress, fatigue or weather. This one sided throbbing pain occurs almost all of a sudden, accompanied at many a times with nausea and visual disturbances which are temporary in nature.

A migraine attack might last from a day to around three or four days. The person becomes sensitive to light and noise and rest with medication is the only solution.

The main reason behind this problem, that affects an estimated six million people in Britain, amounting to a total of 15% adult population, is- an oversensitive brain. It has been found that more than men, women are seen to be the sufferers of migraine.

As of now the new drugs have not been named and are known only by their codes. One such drug, the Mk0974, is said to attack the sequence of chemical reactions itself as it originates from the brain, but from a different spot as that of the existing drugs.

In a migraine attack the brain is said to release the chemical Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP). Triptans which are the already existing drugs block the release of this chemical from the brain. On the other hand, the new drug which is known as the CGRP antagonist, discourages the neighboring nerve cells to get exposed to this chemical, blocking its uptake.

Peter Goadsby, leader of the headache group at the Institute of Neurology, University College London, said yesterday: "[MK0974] is very well tolerated and does really well as compared with current treatments. It is going to be an important advancement. We are well on the way to having, a totally novel way of treating migraine."