Part of the problem of having migraine headache is to also experience sensitivity to light at the same time. Light sensitivity always makes the restriction of the headache worse. Light really hurts so during that time. There also may be intense throbbing headache pain, feeling worse when standing, sensitivity to sound, and nausea and vomiting. That is a lot of suffering.

Altogether, a terrible experience.

Please read my eBook on Migraine.

This is an article by Britt Talley Daniel MD, retired member of the American Academy of Neurology, Migraine textbook author, Podcaster, YouTube video producer, and Blogger.

Read my article on “Emgality (galcanezumab) For Migraine and Cluster Headaches,” on my website at www.doctormigraine.com.

Emgality (galcanezumab) injection prevents both migraine and photosensitivity. This is impressive for a CGRP type migraine preventive drug which has few side effects. All of the CGRP drugs may have a 50% reduction in migraine headache and reduce light sensitivity, yet Emgality has been found to be especially effective for treating photosensitivity.

Galcanezumab (Emgality) is a once-monthly injected monoclonal antibody that inhibits calcitonin gene–related peptide, CGRP, a vasodilator. Galcanezumab is also effective for the treatment of cluster headache and is one of three monoclonal antibodies available for migraine prevention in adults.

These comments regarding Emgality (galcanezumab) treating migraine and photophobia come from the article: di Cola FS, et al, Front. Neurol., 18 January 2023, Volume 13 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.1088036, “Photophobia and migraine outcome during treatment with galcanezumab.”

What are the side effects of Emgality (galcanezumab)?

Serious side effects are a hypersensitivity reaction while common side effects are an injection site reaction, muscle cramps, or spasms.

How effective is Emgality for treating photophobia?

Sixty-eight percent of patients treated with Emgality (galcanezumab) had a significant improvement in photophobia. Half of the patients had improvement within the first month of treatment.

Read my article on Migraine and Photophobia at: www.doctormigraine.com Why Does Photophobia Come With Migraine?

What is the most bothersome symptom for migraineurs?

Most bothersome symptom in the headache world is abbreviated as MBS and Munjal S, et al. studied MBS with their article, “Most bothersome symptom in persons with migraine: results from the migraine in america symptoms and treatment (MAST) study.” Headache. (2020) 60:416–29.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the rates of nausea, phonophobia, and photophobia reported overall and as the most bothersome symptom (MBS) in individuals with migraine and to identify individual characteristics associated with each of the 3 candidate MBSs.

Conclusion: Most people with migraine in the MAST observational study reported all 3 cardinal symptoms of nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. As in clinical trials, the most common MBS was photophobia.

For this study, photophobia improvement was more frequent in patients with episodic migraine  and triptans responders.

Thirty-two patients (68.1%) reported a significant improvement of ictal photophobia, of which 6 patients (18.8%) reported a slight improvement, 11 (34.4%) a moderate improvement, and 15 (46.9%) a high improvement.

The improvement in photophobia was observed within the first month of treatment in 18 patients (56.3%), with 12 patients (37.6%) reporting a significant improvement within the first 6 months of treatment.

Two patients (6.2%) reported an improvement in photophobia only during the second treatment cycle (first and third months of retreatment).

What is it about photophobia and Migraine?

Photophobia occurs in many ophthalmic and neurological disorders,but most commonly in migraine. It is one of the criteria for diagnosing migriane, according to the International Headache Society (IHS).

Photophobia has been defined as hypersensitivity to light, which causes avoidance of light and is the most bothersome associated symptom of migraine.

Read my big book on Migraine.

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 Britt Talley Daniel MD