Migraine vaccine, which has been used in the world for the last three years, started to be used in Turkey as of last year. Anadolu Medical Center Neurology Specialist and Neurology Department Director Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “Migraine vaccine, which is very easy to apply and is sold in special pre-filled injectors, can be injected under the skin once a month. Migraine vaccine creates a preventive effect on the development of pain by inhibiting the substances that initiate migraine pain. It would be more appropriate to use the vaccine especially in patients who did not respond well to previous treatments such as drug therapy and botulinum toxin therapy and who had more than 4-5 pain attacks per month.
Underlining that migraine pain, one of the most difficult pains to bear, is an important problem that complicates the lives of patients and prevents them from doing their daily routines, Anadolu Medical Center Neurology Department Director Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “While migraine attacks can be controlled with drug treatments used in today's medicine, there is no way to get rid of migraine completely yet. The migraine vaccine, which has been on the agenda for the last few years in the world, may inspire powerful treatments of the near future as a new treatment approach. Although the treatment is announced as a 'migraine vaccine', it does not prevent the development of the disease once administered like vaccines. “The patient needs to be injected regularly,” he said.
Migraine-specific first-line treatment
Stating that the vaccines, which have been put into practice as a new and specific method in the treatment of migraine in the last three years, have started to be used in Turkey with the approval of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “The most striking aspect of vaccines is that they are only specific to migraine. While the drugs prescribed for migraine prevention treatment until today are actually non-migraine-specific drugs used in other diseases such as antiepileptics, beta blockers, calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants and botulinum toxin applications, the migraine vaccines we mentioned have entered the medical literature as the first migraine-specific treatment method.
Migraine vaccine blocks substances that trigger migraine pain
Underlining that it is very easy to apply and that it is sold in special pre-filled injectors, Director of Neurology Department Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “Migraine vaccine can be easily administered as a subcutaneous injection once a month. Even the patient can apply it himself. The point to note here is that even if the allergic reactions are very low, it is beneficial to make the first injections in the hospital and under the supervision of a doctor, due to the risk of developing any condition. Monoclonal antibodies made during injection can prevent migraine attacks by inactivating the neuropeptide called CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), which has an important role in the emergence of migraine pain. In a simpler explanation; Migraine vaccine creates a preventive effect on the development of pain by inhibiting the substances that initiate migraine pain.
Effective in 60-80% of patients
Emphasizing that the migraine vaccine is generally effective in 60-80 percent of patients and reduces the average number of headache days per month, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “Although this rate seems to be a great success, we cannot say that it is a treatment method that completely prevents or eliminates migraine. In clinical studies, it is reported that the pain started again shortly after the application. In this case, it may be necessary to make an injection once a month for many years.
Can be used for all types of migraine
Stating that the migraine vaccine is a method that can be used in every migraine type, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “We can say that the vaccine has been used successfully in the treatment of both migraine without aura and migraine with aura, chronic migraine, drug overuse headache and cluster headache patients. Of course, patient selection is also an important point here, as the cost is high. It would be more appropriate to use it especially in patients who did not respond well to previous treatments such as drug therapy and botulinum toxin therapy and who had more than 4-5 pain attacks per month. Reminding that no serious and dangerous side effects of migraine injection treatment have been reported so far, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “Possible side effects are redness at the injection site, itching, infection and generally mild allergic reactions. These effects were found to be similar to the safety and tolerability properties of the drugs.
Be the first to comment