A migraine drug can help stop severe migraine attacks just as they start – helping you go about in your daily lives with no symptoms – a new clinical trial has found. According to the medical journal Neurology, researchers said those who took ubrogepant or Ubrelvy were more than 70 per cent likely to function normally within a couple of hours.

The drug was also able to stop the debilitating symptoms of migraine - a neurological disorder that causes moderate to severe headaches, often on one side of the head.

“Based on our findings, treatment with ubrogepant may allow people with migraine who experience early warning signs before a migraine occurs to quickly treat migraine attacks in their earliest stages and go about their daily lives with little discomfort and disruption,” said researcher Dr. Richard Lipton, vice chair of neurology with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx.

“This could lead to an improved quality of life for those living with migraine,” Lipton added.

According to researchers, the trial - funded by the drugmaker AbbVie - involved more than 500 patients who had been suffering two to eight migraine attacks every month. All of the participants regularly experienced the symptoms of headache like sensitivity to light and sound, fatigue, neck pain or stiffness, dizziness, or a visual aura/

Ubrogepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist or CGRP inhibitor. These drugs work by blocking a small protein that plays a key role in pain transmission. Researchers said the participants were provided either a placebo pill or a 100-milligram ubrogepant tablet and told to take them when they felt their next migraine coming.

They were then given either a placebo or ubrogepant - whichever they didn’t get during the first round - and again asked to take the pill before the next migraine attack. And so, a day after taking the pill, at least 65 per cent of those who took ubrogepant reported that they had little to no migraine symptoms, compared to 48 per cent of those who took a placebo.

“Migraine is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, yet so many people who suffer from this condition do not receive treatment or report that they are not satisfied with their treatment,” Lipton said in a journal news release.

“Improving care at the first signs of migraine, even before headache pain begins, can be a key to improved outcomes,” Lipton added. “Our findings are encouraging, suggesting that ubrogepant may help people with migraine function normally and go about their day.”

How did ubrogepant work?

According to experts, the drug belongs to a group known as CGRP antagonists – and attaches to its receptors in your brain. It then leads to lower levels of CGRP in your brain, which then eases your migraine symptoms.

Researchers said most people who take ubrogepant experience relief from their symptoms within two hours of taking a dose.

Also, there are a few side effects of the drug, which include:

• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Excessive sleepiness
• Nausea

According to researchers, the side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if they last longer, or if they bother you or become severe, it is important to talk with your doctor.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.