Get Vaccinated Against Migraine!

The migraine vaccine, which has been used worldwide for the past three years, began to be used in our country as of last year.

The migraine vaccine, which has been used worldwide for the past three years, started to be implemented in our country last year. Does this method, which is specific to migraines, prevent patients from experiencing migraine attacks, and how does it innovate compared to current treatments? The answers are in this article…

Migraine pain, one of the most unbearable types of pain, is a significant issue that complicates patients' lives and prevents them from carrying out their daily routines. While drug treatments used in modern medicine help control migraine attacks, there is still no way to completely eliminate migraines. The migraine vaccine, applied in several countries around the world for the past few years, could inspire powerful treatments for the near future as a new therapeutic approach.

Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü, Director of the Neurology Department at Anadolu Health Center, believes that calling this new treatment option a “vaccine” is not entirely accurate, even though it is known as such in our country. This is because it does not possess the characteristic of preventing disease development with a single application like vaccines do. In this article, Prof. Dr. Kütükçü addresses the most frequently asked questions about the migraine vaccine, which is an injection application.

SPECIFIC TO MIGRAINE TREATMENT ONLY

The vaccines containing active ingredients Galcanezumab and Erenumab, which have been introduced as a new and specific method for migraine treatment in the last three years, have also started to be used in our country with the approval of the Ministry of Health. The most notable aspect of these vaccines is that they are specifically designed for migraines. Until now, medications prescribed for migraine prevention were actually drugs used for other diseases (such as antiepileptics, beta blockers, calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, and botulinum toxin applications) that were not specific to migraines. In contrast, the vaccines have entered the medical literature as the first treatment method specifically for migraines.

HOW IS IT APPLIED?

The migraine vaccine, which is very easy to apply and sold in specially prepared injectors, can be administered as a subcutaneous injection once a month. In fact, the patient can even administer it themselves. However, it is important to emphasize that the first injections should be done in a hospital under medical supervision due to the risk of allergic reactions (even if very low).

The monoclonal antibodies administered during the injection neutralize CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), a neuropeptide that plays a significant role in the onset of migraine pain, thus preventing migraine attacks. To put it simply, the migraine vaccine prevents the development of pain by blocking the substances that trigger migraine pain.

IS IT EFFECTIVE FOR EVERY PATIENT?

The migraine vaccine successfully reduces the average number of headache days per month in about 60%-80% of patients. However, it cannot be said to be a treatment method that completely prevents or eliminates migraines. For application, it is recommended to have a subcutaneous injection once a month for an average of 9-12 months. Clinical studies have reported that pain can start again shortly after application, which means that monthly injections may need to be continued for many years.

The migraine vaccine is a method that can be used for all types of migraines. It has been successfully used in the treatment of both migraine with aura and without aura, chronic migraine, medication overuse headache, and cluster headache patients. However, due to its high cost, patient selection is an important consideration here. It is particularly more suitable for patients who did not respond well to previous treatments (such as medication therapy and botulinum toxin treatment) and experience more than 4-5 headache attacks per month.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

To date, no serious or dangerous side effects have been reported from migraine injection treatment. Possible side effects include redness, itching, and infection at the injection site, as well as generally mild allergic reactions. The safety and tolerability profiles of the medications have been found to be similar.