A weight loss jab for migraines could soon transform treatment for millions, new research reveals.
Weight Loss Jab for Migraines
Researchers at the University of Naples’ Headache Centre presented findings at the 2025 European Academy of Neurology Congress. They explored how liraglutide, a GLP‑1 receptor agonist, influenced chronic migraines in adults with obesity.
In a group of 26 participants:
- Sufferers reported an average of 11 fewer headache days per month.
- Many noticed a marked improvement in just two weeks.
- Benefits persisted over the three‑month study, despite only modest weight loss.
“Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly,” said Dr Simone Braca.
How It Works: Mechanism of Action
GLP‑1 drugs like liraglutide mimic a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar, appetite and digestion. However, their effect on migraines appears to involve additional pathways:
- Reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion: This hints at lowering intracranial pressure, linked to migraine onset.
- Decreased intracranial venous sinus compression: Alleviating pressure may ease the mechanical triggers of pain.
- Suppression of CGRP release: CGRP (calcitonin gene‑related peptide) is a key molecule in migraine pathophysiology.
“We think that, by modulating cerebrospinal fluid pressure and reducing intracranial venous sinuses compression, these drugs produce a decrease in the release of calcitonin gene‑related peptide (CGRP), a key migraine‑promoting peptide,” explained Dr Braca.
Why This Matters
- 6 million UK sufferers: Migraines impact roughly 6 million people in the UK, often causing pain, nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light, sound and smell.
- Repurposing potential: Given liraglutide’s existing roles in managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, it represents an exciting case of drug repurposing in neurology.
Within weeks of starting the treatment, participants experienced improvements in:
- Work and study performance
- Ability to socialise
- Overall quality of life
The rapid onset of relief and sustained benefit mark this approach as a promising new direction for chronic migraine treatment.
Further research is essential:
- Larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.
- Exploring dose‑response relationships.
- Long‑term safety and efficacy studies.
Still, for sufferers weary of frequent migraine attacks, the weight loss jab for migraines offers fresh hope.
The discovery that a weight loss jab for migraines—specifically liraglutide—can halve the number of headache days per month is a striking development. By targeting intracranial pressure and CGRP production, researchers may have unlocked a novel therapeutic pathway in migraine care.
Stay tuned as this potential game‑changer progresses through clinical trials.
