A new type of migraine treatment may soon be available to Britons.
The medication has been licenced for use by the NHS, and it might soon benefit thousands of individuals throughout the country.
Rimegepant, the medication, dissolves under the tongue and instantly relieves pain.
It is the first medicine licenced by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for acute migraines.
The medicine would be available to around 13,000 people in England and Wales.
Adults must have tried at least two over-the-counter drugs for headaches or migraine attacks and not seen results to be eligible for the Pfizer medical treatment.
Those who have tried and failed triptans, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and paracetamol are suitable.
The novel medication is delivered in the form of a wafer that is simply placed under the tongue to disintegrate.
This prevents the release of the protein calcitonin gene-related peptide, which is thought to cause migraine headache.
Director of medicines evaluation at NICE Helen Knight said: “This is the first and only NICE-recommended medicine that can help alleviate the misery of acute migraines.”
She added it “may be considered a step change in treatment”.
Chief executive of The Migraine Trust Robert Music added: “Migraine is an incredibly misunderstood condition that can have a significant impact on all areas of life, including ability to work, maintain relationships and mental health.”
He commented the approved treatment brings “new hope” to those suffering.
According to NICE, around six million individuals in the UK suffer from migraines.
Among other symptoms, this causes headaches, nausea, disorientation, and exhaustion.
According to the NHS, the most common treatments include pain relievers, triptans, and anti-sickness drugs.
Getting enough sleep can also help lessen the frequency of “painful” migraines.
Migraines can be misdiagnosed as something more serious, as one lady discovered after going to bed with a “severe migraine” and waking up paralysed.