Migraine Vaccine: What is it, Diagnosis and Treatment Methods

Migraine pain is a pain that lasts for hours and is unbearably severe, preventing the person from continuing his daily life.

Migraine pain is a pain that lasts for hours and is unbearably severe, preventing the person from continuing his daily life. It is too severe to be relieved with any painkillers and can cause a lack of energy, weakness and negative mood. Although it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle for the treatment of diseases such as migraine, this cannot be 100% successful in preventing migraine attacks. For this reason, a migraine vaccine was developed as a result of research. Migraine vaccine application is a great savior for those suffering from migraine pain and can largely prevent migraine when applied at the right time and extent.

Individuals suffering from migraine may experience different symptoms in addition to headache. Migraine is a disease that usually occurs during adolescence, and its likelihood of occurring at later ages is very low. Headache may occur from time to time in the form of attacks at a level of pain that will put the person in bed. Migraine pain is felt more intensely on the forehead, back of the head and behind the ear. Symptoms such as excessive water drinking and excessive increase in appetite may also accompany headaches. Digestive system disorders such as constipation, diarrhea and indigestion may be seen in migraine patients. Complaints such as feeling constantly tired, lack of concentration, and inattention may occur due to mental disorders. Although the number of migraine attacks decreases with the inflammation diet, it is not a hundred percent solution to experiencing new attacks from time to time. For this reason, migraine vaccine is a treatment method developed specifically for migraine, which is frequently used by people suffering from migraine.

What is the Migraine Vaccine?

Individuals who have suffered from migraine pain for years and have not been able to find a cure have improved their quality of life by applying it after learning about its benefits while wondering and researching what a migraine vaccine is. Migraine-related pain occurs as a result of the CGRP molecule appearing among neurotransmitters. CGRP can occur not only in the brain but also in other parts of the body.

The mechanism of action of the migraine vaccine works in two different ways. First, it binds to the CGRP molecule and inactivates it. Secondly, molecules that bind to the points where CGRP binds within the cell inhibit CGRP, preventing pain from occurring.

In addition to inhibiting CGRP receptors, there is also a formula for a migraine vaccine that has been developed. In this form of the vaccine, the active ingredient “galcanezumab” binds directly to CGRP and neutralizes it. The starting point of both formulas is to neutralize CGRP, which initiates a migraine attack.

The principle of application of the migraine vaccine is planned to neutralize the CGRP molecule and eliminate pain. CGRP neutralizes antibodies with a migraine injection and is applied in certain doses, aiming to say goodbye to pain permanently. Migraine vaccine (injection) was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 to be used as a migraine preventive.

Migraine vaccine, like many vaccines, is transported in a cold chain. It is a vaccine that patients can self-administer after obtaining the migraine vaccine from a health institution under the supervision of a doctor. However, if the person has a specific condition such as an underlying chronic disease or allergy, it is much more appropriate to have it performed in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor. Migraine vaccine should be administered for another 3 months after the loading dose administered in the first month. Treatment should not be left unfinished. Vaccine doses given every four weeks should continue for 3 months. If the person’s pain does not decrease sufficiently and the doctor deems it appropriate, migraine vaccine treatment can be continued in a controlled manner for another 3 months.

Migraine injection is called a vaccine, but a single dose is not enough. For this reason, migraine vaccine treatment applied regularly for at least 3 months is very likely to yield positive results.

For Which Types of Migraines is the Migraine Vaccine Applied?

There are some criteria for the application of migraine vaccine. Neurological examination is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of these criteria. The vaccine protocol applied under expert control gives positive results. In order to receive a migraine vaccine, patients must have four migraine attacks within a month. At the same time, one must be an adult over the age of eighteen to receive the vaccine. There are also patients who cannot receive migraine vaccination due to reasons such as allergic reactions. Likewise, migraine vaccine is not administered to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Migraine types are generally divided into two: with aura and without aura. Migraine without aura is the most common type of migraine. Although the two migraines do not differ in severity, the symptoms they cause in the person are different. Apart from these, chronic migraine can also be shown as a third type of migraine. Migraine vaccine can be applied to all types of migraine, chronic, with and without aura. Regardless of the type of migraine, you should be examined by a neurologist before using the migraine vaccine.

What are the Advantages of Migraine Vaccine?

Migraine vaccine is a preventive and curative treatment method that eliminates pain. Other medications and painkillers used for migraines may only relieve pain momentarily. Since it cannot be determined when the pain will start, individuals may not always take painkillers at the right moment and have to struggle with the pain.

At the same time, painkillers and other medications can cause side effects such as fatigue and drowsiness in individuals. The migraine vaccine does not have such an effect, and it can provide long-term treatment comfort, not instantaneous. Since migraine attacks do not occur, the quality of life increases. While other drugs used in migraine have emerged for other treatments, it is also used in migraine treatment because it relieves migraine. It does not have a specific formula to cure migraine. At the same time, having to use it constantly can feel boring and overwhelming. Migraine vaccine is administered once every 4 weeks and there is no need for intensive treatment or use. In this way, the adaptation process as well as the treatment can be facilitated. In addition to providing a permanent solution, the migraine vaccine is very advantageous in that it is administered in a short time and is simple. It has made it possible for migraine to be treatable without the need for surgical intervention or anesthesia.

What are the Side Effects of Migraine Vaccine?

As with any treatment, it has been determined that the migraine vaccine may cause side effects in some people. For this reason, neurological control, doctor practice and neurologist follow-up are extremely important. Possible side effects of the migraine vaccine can be listed as follows:

1. Allergic reaction: It may cause an allergic reaction in people with autoimmune disorders or sensitivities.
2. Constipation: Digestive system-related problems such as constipation may occur in individuals who receive migraine injections.
3. Pain: Pain may also occur in the area where the migraine vaccine was administered. However, this is a temporary situation. In cases where symptoms such as fever and pain become intense and unbearable, you should contact your neurologist.

Migraine vaccine is currently administered as the only prophylaxis drug specifically produced for migraine. Since the active ingredient of the vaccine was developed specifically for CGRP, it has a low side effect rate and a high positive effect. You can start vaccination treatment at a time and in a way that suits you, under the supervision of a specialist neurologist. You can administer the vaccine yourself at home or have it administered by your doctor. Your doctor will decide whether the migraine vaccine is suitable for you or not and guide you based on the course of the disease, the number of attacks and their severity. If you are experiencing complaints due to migraine pain and cannot continue your daily life, you can consult your doctor for a migraine injection. You can get rid of your complaints such as pain, fatigue, weakness and lack of concentration with a migraine vaccine. Do not forget to be examined by your doctor for a correct and personalized approach.