CGRP: What is it, and does it affect migraines?

Top Doctors recently spoke to esteemed consultant neurologist, Dr Mark Weatherall, to quiz him with regards to CGRP and CGRP-blocking treatment when it comes to preventing or reducing migraine frequency and/or intensity. 

What is CGRP?

CGRP is a protein that is found within the brain and the body. It was first discovered in the 1980s, and is found in the brain, particularly within pain processing systems, and in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was found to be very deeply involved in migraine physiology. 

How does blocking CGRP help migraines?

Research has found that CGRP was released during migraine attacks, and that when those migraine attacks were treated with drugs, CGRP levels fell. After that then, there was a lot of interest in what CGRP was doing in migraine attacks, and it was subsequently discovered that if an infusion of CGRP was given to people who were prone to migraines, it would actually set off an attack. So, it was concluded that CGRP is one of the most important mediators of pain in migraines. 

How does CGRP-blocking treatment compare to other treatment options?

It can be useful both as an acute treatment, and as a preventive treatment. There are going to be new CGRP antagonists which will be available in the coming years that block CGRP when given, and can be very useful and successful when preventing or reducing the intensity of migraine attacks. 

How is CGRP-blocking treatment administered?

CGRP-blocking treatments can be given as tablets, injections, or infusions, depending on whether it is being used for acute or preventive treatment. When it comes to acute CGRP-blocking treatment, the treatment that will usually be administered is normally given as tablets, while preventive treatment usually comes in the form of injections or infusions. 

Book an appointment with Dr Mark Weatherall via his Top Doctors profile today if you are suffering from migraines on a frequent basis, and want to find out more about CGRP-blocking treatment.