Everything You Need to Know About Clinical Trials for Migraines

Migraines are a common condition. It’s estimated that more than 38 million Americans and 1 billion people around the world get migraines. A migraine is no ordinary headache. It brings intense, throbbing pain, along with other symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with your life.

If you’ve tried just about every migraine medicine and still haven’t found relief, you may have another option. Hundreds of clinical trials going on right now around the country are testing new migraine therapies. One or more of these treatments could revolutionize the way doctors care for migraines. By participating in a clinical trial, you could get access to a breakthrough migraine treatment months or years before it becomes available to the public.

Migraines can be disruptive and life altering. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, they’re the sixth most disabling condition in the world. Migraines are considered chronic if you have more than 15 migraine days out of each month. More than 4 million people get chronic migraines. For many of these people, the pain and other symptoms are so severe that they have to lie down in a dark, quiet room whenever a migraine strikes.

A few different migraine medicines are available, but no current treatment can cure these headaches. The medications focus on treating migraine symptoms or preventing the migraine from beginning. Some people have tried drug after drug without finding any relief.

If you’re one of these people, you do have another option—a clinical trial. Researchers use these studies to test out new, more targeted migraine treatments. By enrolling in a trial, you can get access to a potentially more effective migraine therapy.

Many clinical trials across the country and around the world are studying new migraine treatments. These studies are being conducted at university medical centers, government agencies, and drug companies.

To find a study, you have a few options:

There are a few helpful websites for finding a study:

To participate in a clinical trial, you’ll need to meet the study qualifications. The researchers usually have criteria for participants, which can include:

You’ll need to meet all of the qualifications to enroll in the study. Meeting these criteria ensures the most accurate results.

Even if you’re accepted into the study, you don’t have to participate. Make sure you understand the treatment and how it might help or hurt you before you sign on.

Before you start the study, you’ll have to sign an informed consent form. By signing this form, you’ll show that you understand the purpose of the study, along with its benefits and risks.

To be sure you know what to expect during the clinical trial, it’s a good idea to ask the researchers these questions:

One of the doctors will give you an exam and review your medical history before you start. If you’re accepted into the trial, then you’ll be assigned to a study group.

If you’re in the treatment group, you’ll get the migraine drug that’s being studied. If you’re in the control group, you’ll get an older medicine, or an inactive pill called a placebo.

If the study is blinded, you won’t know which group you’re in. The medical team also might not know which treatment you’re getting.

Migraine studies are conducted in three phases:

Studies can be inpatient or outpatient. During inpatient studies, you’ll stay overnight in the hospital for part or all of the treatment period. During outpatient studies, you’ll only go to the hospital to receive the treatment. You may have to go in for check-ups with the study doctors to see how you’re responding to the treatment and whether you’re having any side effects.

Often you’ll get paid for the treatment and care you get as part of the trial. You might also be compensated for your time and travel costs.

When you take part in a clinical trial, you’ll get access to a new migraine treatment before it’s available to the public. This new treatment may be better than anything that’s currently available.

Here are some other benefits to participating:

Medical studies do have some risks and downsides, for example:

If your current migraine treatment isn’t working, a clinical trial can be a way for you to try a new and possibly more effective therapy. Though a study can have risks, you always have the right to leave if you aren’t happy with the results, or if the treatment causes side effects.

Approximately half of all people with migraines are never diagnosed. A migraine is no ordinary headache, so headache treatments usually won’t work for migraines. This is why it’s important to see your doctor if you think you may have migraines. Once you’ve been diagnosed, you can work with your doctor to find a treatment plan or a clinical trial.

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Created on Apr 13th 2019 16:27. Viewed 731 times.

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