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Migraine Drug May Shield Against Blindness
7 May
Summary
- CGRP inhibitors reduced glaucoma risk by 25% in a recent study.
- Migraine and glaucoma share links to blood vessel function.
- Monoclonal antibody CGRP inhibitors showed the strongest effect.
A recent study published in the journal Neurology indicates that CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) inhibitors, a class of drugs used to prevent migraines, might also help ward off glaucoma. This research observed a 25% lower risk of glaucoma development in individuals taking CGRP inhibitors when compared to those on other migraine prevention medications.
Lead researcher Dr. Chien-Hsiang Weng highlighted that both migraine and glaucoma are linked to how blood vessels in the brain alter blood flow. Since CGRP inhibitors are known to regulate blood vessel contraction and inflammation, they hold promise for improving eye health in individuals susceptible to glaucoma.
The study analyzed over 36,800 individuals who used CGRP inhibitors between 2018 and 2024. A lower incidence of glaucoma was observed in the CGRP inhibitor group, with approximately 0.4% developing the condition compared to 0.6% in the group taking other migraine drugs.
Notably, the protective effect against glaucoma was most pronounced with specific CGRP inhibitors: monoclonal antibodies like erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, and eptinezumab. These were associated with a 23% reduced risk of glaucoma compared to other types of CGRP inhibitors, suggesting a targeted benefit for eye health.
