Trudhesa: New Acute Migraine Treatment
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation was founded with the mission to find a cure for cluster headaches and migraines as well as increase awareness about the different types of debilitating headaches and the lives of sufferers. The Foundation strives to remain a knowledge leader in the field and keep others informed of any changes and updates to the research.
Where We Are with Migraines Today
There is currently no cure for migraine headaches. There are some treatments that help prevent the incidence of migraine days, and others that help sufferers manage the pain in the moment, but they are largely unable to treat migraines after their onset. As a result of this, migraine sufferers are often left to deal with the intense pain until it subsides. Sufferers are also significantly disabled during a migraine incident since they are prone to sound and light sensitivity as well as nausea.
Some of the treatments that migraine sufferers use include medications, wearable devices that deliver electronic stimulation to nerves, therapies such as acupuncture and relaxation, and self-care such as stress management. While these treatments help reduce migraine occurrence, they are largely done in advance of a migraine as opposed to during an episode. Furthermore, these treatments also require the sufferer to make significant lifestyle changes to avoid migraine triggers, attend regular therapy sessions, and reduce stress. Though achievable, these treatment regimens are very demanding and can be costly. For migraine sufferers, these tasks may come as interruptions to their other day-to-day activities such as work and childcare.
Introducing Trudhesa
In light of all this, the biopharmaceutical company Impel NeuroPharma, Inc. began research on Trudhesa, which was FDA approved in September of last year. Trudhesa is a nasal spray that contains dihydroergotamine, a medication that has been around for decades and is often used today, especially in injectable form, for difficult-to-treat migraines. Trudhesa is different from the previous versions of dihydroergotamine because it is not a pill, not an injection, and does not use a regular spray bottle. Instead, Trudhesa uses a special nasal device that allows the treatment to be quickly delivered to the upper part of the nose where there are more blood vessels. This translates to quicker delivery into the bloodstream than a typical pill or nasal spray.
The medication itself (dihydroergotamine) has gone through many clinical trials and research studies over the decades. Trudhesa performed another study recently in 360 patients using their specific device, with about 1/3rd of migraine patients having pain freedom and 2/3rds of migraine patients having pain relief at 2 hours (2 hours is a standard time point emphasized in migraine studies). Of those who noted pain freedom, 93 percent noted remaining pain-free at 24 hours after the administration of the treatment. Unlike traditional oral migraine treatments that are only effective if taken within an hour of the onset of an attack, Trudhesa may also be effective even when taken late into an attack.
The Future of Headache and Migraine Research
The news of Trudhesa is a step in the right direction for migraine sufferers around the world, but there is still more work to be done. The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure and progressing research surrounding debilitating headaches, including migraines. The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation wants to contribute to the continued research and discovery surrounding possible migraine treatments and cures. To help The Foundation in its mission, contribute today.