A groundbreaking study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul has revealed that weight loss injections may help prevent migraines in women. The research, based on Danish health registry data, indicates that women who began taking appetite-suppressing GLP-1 jabs required triptan drugs—the primary treatment for migraine symptoms—8% less frequently. The effect was most pronounced in women aged 18 to 35, who saw an 18% reduction in triptan use.
Study Details and Findings
Scientists analyzed data from approximately 150,000 individuals in Denmark who started taking Wegovy or Ozempic between 2022 and 2024. Both drugs contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Notably, no significant reduction in migraine medication use was observed in men. The study was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide.
Researchers suspect that the anti-inflammatory properties of GLP-1 jabs may contribute to migraine relief. There is also speculation that these injections could directly affect the central nervous system, influencing migraine pathways. Dr. Noémie Roland, assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark and lead author of the study, stated: “The study suggests that initiation of semaglutide is associated with a gradual reduction in triptan use during the first year after initiation among women.”
Expert Commentary
Rob Music, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, commented: “Migraine is two to three times more common in women than men and can be linked to hormonal fluctuations. Like many conditions that disproportionately affect women, migraine is often overlooked. While these initial findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm whether semaglutide has a direct anti-migraine effect beyond weight loss.”
Approximately ten million Britons suffer from debilitating migraines, with women disproportionately affected. Symptoms include severe throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. Attacks can last for days. Around two million people in the UK rely on triptans to manage their condition.
The study compared triptan usage two years before starting the jabs with usage one year after initiation. The reduction in reliance on triptans occurred gradually rather than immediately, suggesting a cumulative effect.
