Migraine

Migraine

Author: Sonja Jonsson

Symptoms of migraine 

Migraine is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, often intense headache attacks. Common symptoms include throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances. Some people experience a so-called aura before an attack, which can include visual phenomena, numbness, or speech disturbances, for example. A migraine attack can last from a few hours up to three days and often affects work capacity and quality of life. In Sweden, approximately 1.5 million people are estimated to suffer from migraine, which corresponds to about 15 percent of the population. The condition is more common among women than men. 

Diagnosis of migraine

A migraine diagnosis is primarily made clinically, based on the patient's medical history and symptoms. There are no specific laboratory tests for migraine, but other causes of headache are ruled out through examinations. According to international criteria, a patient must have experienced at least five attacks with typical migraine symptoms for a diagnosis to be made. Migraine is divided into different types, with migraine with aura and migraine without aura being the most common. 

A specific form is premenstrual migraine, which affects women around their menstrual period. It usually occurs one to two days before the first day of menstruation and is believed to be triggered by the rapid drop in estrogen levels just before menstruation. Premenstrual migraine is often more prolonged and difficult to treat than other forms of migraine and occurs both as pure menstrual migraine (only during menstruation) and menstruation-related migraine (also at other times).  

Current Migraine Treatment 

Migraine treatment consists of both acute and preventive approaches. Acute treatment includes pain-relieving medications such as NSAIDs, paracetamol, or triptans. Triptans are specifically developed for migraine and work by affecting serotonin receptors. Preventive treatment is given to patients with frequent or severe attacks and may include beta-blockers, antiepileptics, antidepressants, or CGRP inhibitors (calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors). Non-pharmacological methods such as relaxation, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes can also be effective.   

Why is it important to develop new treatment methods for migraine? 

Despite the availability of several treatment options, there are significant unmet needs in migraine care. Many patients experience insufficient efficacy, side effects, or contraindications with existing medications. Typical side effects of triptans include fatigue, feeling hot, chest pressure, and pressure/stiffness across the neck and throat. CGRP inhibitors are promising but expensive and not available to everyone. In addition, there is a risk of medication overuse, which can lead to chronic headaches. It is therefore crucial to develop new, safe, and effective treatments that can help more patients with fewer side effects. 

CTC's Experience in Migraine Research 

In recent years, CTC has conducted several migraine studies with various groups of research participants and types of migraine, including premenstrual migraine, migraine related to medication overuse, and acute and preventive treatment of migraine using drugs already on the market but approved for other uses. Given the significant suffering caused by migraine, combined with the societal costs associated with the condition, extensive drug development is taking place in this field, and CTC often seeks research participants for migraine studies.     

Do you want to participate in studies at CTC?

When you register with our database, you will receive information about upcoming or ongoing studies that match your profile. Once you have expressed your interest in participating, our staff will contact you. Your participation is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.