Are antimigraine drugs that influence CGRP levels justified?

Abstract

Migraine is one of the most common disorders found in everyday clinical practice. Although migraines are not directly life-threatening or permanently disabling, the severity of the pain and symptoms that characterize a migraine attack often prevent normal work and cause difficulties in everyday life. Migraines also affect the patient's family, who often experience stress and depression in response to the patient's condition. Available therapy, used in both acute and chronic treatments, might not provide sufficient improvement. Due to problems like therapy inefficacy, side effects, and intolerance, patients often stop treatments. Recent studies have indicated that drugs that act through calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) can significantly improve migraine therapy. Here, we review results from currently available clinical trials on CGRP receptor antagonists and anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.

Keywords: Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies; Antimigraine drugs; Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP); Gepants; Migraine.