Teenager proud to be part of research trial for new children’s migraine medication
- 30 October 2024
- 3 min read
A teenager living with severe migraines has described why he wanted to be part of research which could help children affected by the condition.
Luke Platt is the first child in the UK to be part of the new trial looking at the effectiveness of a medication in children aged six to 17. The tablets are already approved to treat migraines in adults.
It is estimated that 3% to 10% of UK children live with migraines, with the prevalence rising as children reach puberty. However there are limited treatment options for children.
Luke, from Brinnington in Stockport, first started having migraines in 2020. His headaches got worse and can regularly cause him excruciating pain.
He said: “It’s usually painful behind my left eye. Sometimes it can lead to me being sick. There are bad nights where I’m screaming in pain.”
The 14-year-old, a pupil at Reddish Vale High School, rarely has fewer than two migraines a week, and that can rise to eight a week.
The severity of the condition has affected how he lives his life, causing him to miss time at school when the episodes are at their worst. It has also stopped him from attending mixed martial arts (MMA) classes and playing football as a goalkeeper.
Luke was eligible to be part of the latest migraine research trial taking place at Stepping Hill Hospital, part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. Stepping Hill is one of around 100 sites in North America, Europe and the UK carrying out this research.
Luke said: “I just wanted to try something that might have a chance of stopping these migraines, so I was happy to be given this opportunity.
“It’s [the migraines] painful and it stops you from wanting to do stuff. When I have one, I feel like every time I walk my head is bouncing. I have dizziness with them and feel sick with them - I can just literally sleep for hours.”
Luke’s mum Donna said: “It’s awful to see him suffer [with the migraines]. As a parent, you just want to take the pain away from your child, no matter how old they are. We were told about the research trial and Luke made the decision. We’re really happy that he can be part of it and hopefully the results can help lots of people.”
Luke is one of 450 children who will take part in the trial, which is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. His involvement means taking two tablets each day over 12 weeks. The trial is double-blinded which means neither he nor the researchers currently know whether he is on the low or high dose, or a placebo.
He makes numerous visits to the Stepping Hill research team who monitor how he is doing on the trial. This includes checks of his blood, height and weight, and urine. He also answers questions about how he is feeling and must keep a daily diary.
Dr Chris Cooper is a Consultant Paediatrician and the paediatric research lead at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. He is also the Trust’s Principal Investigator for the trial.
Dr Cooper said: “It is surprising to some people that children can suffer from migraines – they can be very disruptive and difficult to treat. This study is an exciting opportunity for young people to trial a preventative treatment for migraine that has been available to adults but not licensed for children. Hopefully the Stockport team can be part of finding better treatment to improve quality of life for this chronic condition.”
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