A new migraine pill that could change the lives of thousands of sufferers nationwide has been given the green light for NHS use in England.
According to The Migraine Trust, about 10 million adults in the UK currently battle “incredibly debilitating” migraines on a regular basis – but now, thanks to new final draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), there could be a some fresh hope offered on the NHS in England.
Anyone who experiences at least four migraine days a month, and has tried at least three other treatments prior but has sadly found no relief, will be eligible for the once-daily pill known as Atogepant (sold under the brand name Aquipta).
NICE said this means upwards of 170,000 migraine sufferers will have more treatment options.
A ‘life-changing’ new daily migraine pill has been given the green light for NHS use in England / Credit: Nikodash | Adrian Swancar (via Unsplash)
The new guidance for England from NICE comes after Atogepant was recommended for use in Scotland by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in October last year, and also follows clinical trials that suggested the drug was effective in some adults.
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Atogepant is designed to be taken daily to prevent both chronic migraines, which occur more than 15 times a month, as well as episodic migraines that occur between four and 15 times a month, and at first, it will only be available from specialist doctors in secondary care settings, rather than from GPs.
“Migraines affect millions of people in this country, and this new treatment will help prevent recurring migraine attacks when other medicines have failed,” commented health minister, Andrew Stephenson, as the drug was given the green light this week.
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Atogepant is expected to be made available from next month / Credit: Brett Jordan (via Unsplash)
“It will allow more people whose daily life is affected by this painful, debilitating condition to manage their migraines more effectively and to live their lives to the fullest.”
Rob Music, who is the chief executive of The Migraine Trust, says he wants the rollout of Atogepant in England to be “swift”.
He explained: “It is positive to see even more therapies emerging for people with migraines, as many still rely on treatments developed for other conditions, and we now need to ensure access is swift, so that migraine patients can benefit from them as quickly as possible.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
11th April 2024 
