Atogepant beat topiramate on tolerability and migraine days head-to-head
TEMPLE, an AbbVie-funded phase 3b trial, is the first direct test of the CGRP blocker atogepant against topiramate — a long-used preventive many patients cannot tolerate.
Does MSG cause headaches? What controlled studies actually found
A systematic review of human trials found the evidence weak and inconsistent. Where MSG seemed to trigger headaches, it was given in large doses dissolved in water without food, in studies that were not properly blinded.
What helps a tension headache? Ordinary painkillers, and only modestly
Cochrane reviews of paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin for tension-type headache find each beats a dummy pill for a minority of people — a real but small effect, with side effects no higher than placebo.
Chocolate, cheese and caffeine are blamed for migraine far more often than tested
A pooled analysis puts patient-reported rates at 13.9%, 8.0% and 12.0%. All of it is self-report, the heterogeneity is enormous, and the reviewers stop short of recommending avoidance.
CGRP drugs removed 0.7 to 3.8 migraine days a month in the trials
The older oral preventives managed 0.44 to 1.4. The larger change is that the new drugs work in people the old ones failed, and are tolerated well enough to stay taken.