Thousands of people suffering from migraines could soon be offered a new pill on the NHS in England.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has today published draft guidance recommending the drug Rimegepant as an option for preventing migraines in up to 145,000 adults, if previous treatments have failed. The guidance recommends that the pill, made by Pfizer, should be given to adults who have at least four migraine attacks a month but fewer than 15.
Migraine attacks usually last between four and 72 hours, according to the Migraine Society, and symptoms can include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light and sound, feeling sick and vomiting. Nice says more than 5.6 million people in England are thought to have episodic migraines and around 190,000 attacks are experienced every day.
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Current headache treatments, which include beta-blockers, antidepressants and epilepsy medicine, can have significant side effects and can be ineffective, according to Nice. Final guidance on the use of the new drug, which is taken as a wafer which dissolves under the tongue, is expected next month if there are no appeals.
Helen Knight, Nice director of medicines evaluation, said: “Each year the lives of millions of people in England are blighted by migraine attacks. They can be extremely debilitating and can significantly affect a person’s quality of life."
She added: “In comments received during consultation on the previous draft guidance, patients and carers described migraine as an invisible disability that affects all aspects of life including family, social activities, mental health, finances and education. Rimegepant is the first oral treatment for migraine to be recommended by Nice and for many thousands of people it is likely to be a welcome and more convenient addition to existing options for a condition that is often overlooked and undertreated.”
Toby Cousens, head of hospital and internal medicine at Pfizer UK, said: “On top of debilitating physical symptoms, migraine can place significant pressure on the professional and personal lives of those living with it, including being forced to take time off work.
“Today’s decision is a positive step forward to help meet the care needs of eligible patients in England and Wales. We are committed to improving the lives of those living with the burden of migraine and will continue to work with Nice and other health bodies in the UK to help further enhance access and care.”
What are the symptoms of a migraine?
According to the NHS website, a migraine tends to be a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on one side of the head. You may get other symptoms just before a migraine, such as:
- feeling very tired and yawning a lot
- craving certain foods or feeling thirsty
- changes in your mood
- a stiff neck
- peeing more
If you have problems with your sight, such as seeing zig zag lines or flashing lights, or dizziness and difficulty speaking, you may be experiencing migraine with aura. Aura symptoms should not last for longer than an hour.
Migraines usually last between two hours and three days, with some symptoms - such as feeling very tired - starting up to two days before the head pain starts and finishing after the headache stops. Some people have migraines several times a week, while others do not have them very often.
What causes migraines?
It's not known what causes migraines, according to the NHS, but you may be more likely to get them if you have a close family member who gets them. Some people find certain triggers can cause migraines, such as:
- starting their period
- anxiety and depression
- stress and tiredness
- not eating regularly or skipping meals
- too much caffeine
- not getting enough exercise
If your migraines are severe, getting worse or lasting longer than usual, you should see your GP. You should also see a GP if you have migraines more than once a week or if you're finding it difficult to control your migraines.
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