Why Some CGRP Treatments for Migraine Work When Others Don't
By now, most people in the migraine and headache community know of, if not tried, the CGRPs. After a bit of a drought in the development of effective medications for this prevalent condition, many migraineurs were lined up and chomping at the bit to see what all the hubbub was about. And there was quite a lot of buzz about these new treatments in the migraine and cluster headache community. The trial results were rumored to be significant and potentially life-changing.
The question everyone keeps asking about CGRPs
It's now been years since the first migraine CGRP treatments were introduced, and beyond the troubling stumbling block related to their high expense, one major question seems to keep reemerging: "Why does this treatment work so well for some and not others?"
Why one treatment might not work for you
Why not me? With hopes raised high by the success stories of others, many of our community members have expressed disappointment after trying one of the CGRPs to no avail. That's such a normal response. It's disheartening to hear about the dramatic improvement of others when you don't achieve a similar outcome for yourself.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. We've learned that not all CGRPs operate the same way. So, if one CGRP is ineffective, it doesn't necessarily mean that another CGRP treatment will not work.
What are CGRP treatments, and how do they work?
CGRP is a protein that is found throughout the brain and body. It's highly prevalent in the sensory nerves that supply the head and neck. Researchers discovered CGRP is found in high levels in migraine sufferers during attacks. These treatments basically block that protein, but they do so in different ways.
How CGRP inhibitors and recepter blockers differ
To make the highly scientific more understandable, the CGRP treatment approach has been described using a lock-and-key analogy. CGRP monoclonal antibodies attach directly to the CGRP protein, acting as the key.CGRP gepants work differently, acting as receptor blockers that target the CGRP receptor itself, or the lock. So while all CGRP drugs are focused on the same challenge, they use a different target to reach their goal.
What this means if one doesn't work?
This can mean that if one CGRP doesn't work for you, another CGRP might. When it comes to CGRP treatments, it's definitely worth trying a couple before throwing in the towel.
Why migraine treatment isn't one-size-fits-all
Of course, there's also the potential outcome that none of the CGRP treatments will work for you. Or, rather than stopping your attacks dramatically and entirely, this treatment may only improve your condition slightly. Migraine works so differently in all of us that what is an effective strategy for one person can be completely ineffective for another.
Why a multi-pronged approach works best
For most migraineurs, there is no such thing as a simple cure or easy fix. Instead, the most effective strategy is a multi-pronged one. This usually involves multiple approaches, including various medications alongside life changes like diet, sleep, and exercise. Combined with time, effort, energy, and lots of patience, this kind of approach tends to bring gradual improvement to this complex neurological condition we call migraine.
Have you tried one or more of the CGRPs? What has been your experience? Did one work better than another? Please share your experience in the comment section below so that we may learn from one another.
Join the conversation