What is it about?
Many people with migraine struggle to find effective and well-tolerated treatments. In this study, we tested whether a weekly dose of a medication called cabergoline, which is normally used to treat hormone imbalances, could help prevent migraine attacks. Thirty-six participants with frequent migraines took part in the trial. We found that people with episodic migraine (fewer than 15 days of migraine per month) had fewer migraine days when treated with cabergoline compared to those who received placebo. Participants also reported feeling better overall while taking the medication. No serious side effects occurred. These promising results suggest that cabergoline might be a useful and affordable option for migraine prevention and should be studied further in larger trials.
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Why is it important?
This study is the first randomized clinical trial to investigate cabergoline as a preventive treatment for migraine. Cabergoline is a low-cost, well-tolerated dopamine agonist used for other medical conditions, and it only needs to be taken once a week. Our findings show that it can significantly reduce migraine frequency in people with episodic migraine, suggesting a promising new treatment avenue. In a time where migraine therapies are becoming more expensive and not all patients respond to existing options, this study introduces a potentially affordable and effective alternative worth exploring in larger trials.
Perspectives
Conducting this study was a truly meaningful experience for me, both as a clinician and a researcher. Migraine affects so many people in their daily lives. I was driven by the idea that a simple, affordable, and already-approved medication like cabergoline might offer relief to some of these patients. I’m proud of this work because it challenges conventional thinking and opens the door for new directions in migraine prevention research. I hope this publication inspires others to look beyond standard approaches and to consider the untapped potential of drug repurposing.
Astrid Hjelholt
Aarhus Universitet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Cabergoline as a preventive migraine treatment: A randomized clinical pilot trial, PLOS One, April 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320937.
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