From Simon Cowell’s red-tinted glasses to ‘game-changing’ new drug – your ultimate guide to migraines & how to zap them
CELEBRITIES go for some bold looks at times – and Simon Cowell is no exception.
But when the music and TV mogul returned to our screens on Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent sporting red-tinted glasses, they were not a fashion statement.
Instead, they were to prevent migraines, he revealed.
Simon, 64, has already missed filming this year because of the condition, which affects one in five women and one in 15 men.
He told The Sun: “The red glasses are because I have lights in my eyes all day long. It’s like a laser and I get migraines and that’s like a filter.
“And they actually do work.”
Prof Peter Goadsby, of King’s College London, tells Sun Health: “Some of those with migraines do find relief with tints.
“There is some limited science to this. Altogether, it’s fair to say it’s not very well understood.
“That said, light sensitivity is very common in migraines.”
Rob Music, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, adds: “Like many other approaches to migraine care, some people report finding migraine glasses helpful while others don’t report any benefit.
Light sensitivity
“At the moment, there is not enough high-quality scientific evidence for us to know whether these glasses help people with migraines or not, so we cannot recommend them.”
For those with light sensitivity, Rob recommends good-quality sunglasses when out- doors, using warmer lighting in the home and avoiding bright, artificial light where possible.
For example, ask for a desk by a window if you work in an office.
There are dozens of other triggers that fuel migraines, including alcohol, loud noise, stress and smells.
Medication can also make a difference.
This month, a new drug was approved on the NHS.
Atogepant, sold under the brand name Aquipta, prevents attacks by targeting a molecule called CGRP.
I have lights in my eyes all day long. It’s like a
Simon Cowell
laser and the red glasses actually do work
Prof Goadsby says: “These medicines are game-changers.
“I think it’s fair to say these medicines are turning migraine management upside down for the better.”
AVOID TRIGGER POINTS
PREVENTING migraine attacks involves avoiding triggers.
Rob says: “What may be a trigger for one person may not be for another. Commonly reported ones include stress, changes to routine and certain foods and light.”
Food triggers include red wine, soft cheeses, processed meats, diet fizzy drinks and caffeine.
Rob says: “People may also find that combinations of triggers may lead to an attack. For example, lack of sleep alone may not trigger a migraine attack, but changing one’s usual caffeine intake after a night of disturbed sleep might.”
A study last month by the University of Arizona suggests improving sleep health may help.
The researchers noted sleep deprivation can occur for many reasons, including stress.
A GP will recommend patients adapt their lifestyle to stave off migraines.
Rob says: “General improvements to lifestyle, including exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet, can mean that a person is more able to cope with migraine attacks, as they are healthier and fitter. Keeping a headache diary is useful to spot any potential triggers and patterns.”
But he adds that spotting patterns can be difficult, and avoiding triggers is not always practical.
“Many people need to use additional methods to control their condition,” says Rob.
Preventative medicines, such as prophylactics, which are taken every day, can be useful for those who can’t get a grip on their symptoms.
Rob adds: “People experiencing four migraine attacks or more per month may benefit from exploring options for preventive treatments.
“Your GP will be able to discuss whether preventative medicines are available to you.”
NEXT GENERATION DRUGS
MOST preventatives currently available are repurposed drugs that treat other conditions.
These include angiotensin II blockers (usually for high blood pressure) and anti-serotonergic drugs (for depression).
Therefore, the new CGRP blockers are exciting because they have been designed specifically for migraine prevention – and they work.
Prof Goadsby says: “CGRP is a chemical in the pain pathway in the head that is important in migraines.
Blocking its effect can improve migraines very substantially in many.”
One form of CGRP blockers are oral tablets “gepants”.
Rob says: “At the start of the migraine process, CGRP is released by the nerves, and this helps to prolong and sustain the migraine attack.
“Gepants bind to that CGRP receptor on the nerve and block this effect.”
Aquipta, sold under the brand name Qulipta in the US, is the newest gepant to receive the NHS green light, giving hope to around 170,000 sufferers who could be eligible.
It will be an option for people who have at least four migraine days a month and who have tried at least three other treatments to no avail.
Another gepant, rimegepant (Vydura), was approved in September.
It is available to adults who have tried at least two triptans but found they did not work well enough.
CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are another form of CGRP blockers, and they come in injectable form.
Several are available on the NHS, such as Aimovig, Ajovy, Emgality and Vyepti.
ATTACK ZONE
EVEN with the most stringent prevention plan, migraines could still strike.
In these cases, analgesics can treat the pain at the time they are taken.
These include paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
Anti-sickness medicines might also be helpful.
Prochlorperazine can be bought over the counter if you are aged 18 or over and have been previously diagnosed with migraines.
Rob says: “Others, such as domperidone, are available on prescription only.”
Triptans, which also target CGRP by suppressing its release, reduce the pain and sickness of a migraine attack at the time they are taken.
Rob adds: “Triptans would usually be prescribed.
“However, some, such as sumatriptan, are available to buy in packs of two from a pharmacy.”
But again, this is only if a person has previously been diagnosed.
Two doses of any triptan are allowed in 24 hours and they should not be used more than ten days in a month.
Various migraine “tips” have been tried and tested by sufferers, from soaking feet in hot water, acupuncture and getting a piercing on the daith or tragus part of the ear.
While these do not have much evidence other than anecdotal, they are unlikely to harm your health if given a try.