During Pain Awareness Month, We’re Shining a Light on Pediatric Migraine

September is Pain Awareness Month, a perfect time to shine a light on the invisible diseases that affect our nation’s health and wellbeing—diseases like migraine that afflicts nearly 40 million Americans in the U.S. today.??Often triggered by stress, migraine not only affect adults, but children as well. According to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF), roughly 10% of children experience migraine[1] .

As we continue to adjust to living in a world not yet free from a brutal pandemic, we are having to reckon with the aftereffects of a national mental health crisis. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2020 survey revealed that stress from the pandemic has exacerbated problems many people were already facing—job losses, childcare, racial disparities, housing, and healthcare to name a few. The APA has declared that as a nation the mental health crisis we face could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come[2] .?

These environmental stressors can have a devastating impact on our children. The uncertainty they feel affects their physical and mental health. In fact, the APA survey revealed that stress is having a detrimental effect on one of our youngest generations. Adolescents ages 13 – 17 reported concerning levels of depression and stress[3] . And stress, according to the AMF, is a trigger for almost 70% of people with migraine[4] .

But there is reason for optimism. As we continue to learn more about migraines in children and adolescents, we can help identify and minimize them. Less screen time, better room lighting, and good hydration can all play a role in easing migraines[5] . And because these modifications may not help all children who suffer, we are working hard on a therapy that can treat them head on.?

In February 2020, Biohaven received FDA approval for rimegepant, known commercially as Nurtec ODT. Building on its success in treating adults with migraine, we are working to safely provide the same solution for children.?

We are currently recruiting for a phase three multi-center clinical trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy for the treatment of migraine in children ages 7 to 17. Anyone with a loved one currently suffering from migraine can visit our?website ?to learn more about the study.??

As someone who has spent most of her career involved in overseeing clinical trials, I am hopeful that we are close to finding a solution for children. I’m also confident that as we continue to adjust to living in a world of uncertainty, we can take comfort in all that science has to teach us. We need to continue to raise our voices for those who can’t always advocate for themselves and to trust in the science that can help bring about solutions that will begin to ease the health burdens we’ve been experiencing as a nation for far too long.

[1] ?Pediatric Migraine, The American Migraine Foundation, Available here:?https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/living-with-migraine/pediatric-migraine/ ?accessed on September 7, 2021?

[2] ?The American Psychological Association, Available here:?https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-october , accessed on September 7, 2021?

[3] ?The American Psychological Association, Available here:?https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-october , accessed on September 7, 2021

[4] ?Top Migraine Triggers, The American Migraine Foundation, Available here:?https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/top-10-migraine-triggers/ , accessed on September 9, 2021?

[5] ?Tips to Help Children with Migraine, The American Migraine Foundation, Available here:?https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/7-tips-to-help-children-with-migraine-have-a-successful-school-year/ accessed on September 10, 2021?