“A 12-week study found liraglutide reduced migraine frequency in 31 obese migraine patients, but did not consider gastrointestinal side effects or intracranial pressure reduction.”

Migraines affect about 15% of the global population and often disrupt daily life. Many patients with chronic migraines did not respond well to available treatments or experienced side effects that limited their use.

 A pilot study led by Italian researcher Simone Braca explored a new option for such patients. The study investigated liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist commonly used for diabetes and weight loss.

The study, published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, included 31 participants (26 women and 5 men) with chronic migraine and obesity. They received liraglutide for 12 weeks and kept daily headache records. At the end of the study, the average number of migraine days per month dropped from 20 to 11. Fifteen participants reported a 50% reduction in migraine frequency, seven had a 75% reduction, and one reported complete relief. Mild gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and constipation occurred but did not affect the study.

Although weight loss can reduce migraine frequency, the minor BMI change (34.0 to 33.9) suggested a different mechanism. 

Experts suggested that liraglutide might have reduced intracranial pressure (ICP) in migraine patients; however, the study lacked direct measurements and a control group. They recommended that future research evaluate these parameters to understand the drug’s effects better.

(Source:https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-ozempic-drug-significantly-frequency-chronic.html)