So far, no cure exists for migraines, but Blaya and other headache specialists are helping Florida patients manage their symptoms.

Blaya’s arsenal includes devices, nasal sprays, injections, infusions and medications.

Blaya gives Gonzon a combination of Botox injections every 10 weeks, and Ubrelvy, a newer migraine oral medication that directly blocks a protein known as CGRP, believed to play a major role in migraine attacks.

Specialists are using this new class of medications called anti-CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) drugs to treat or shorten a migraine attack. CGRP-blocking drugs block the effects of this protein to try to prevent migraine attacks, shorten them, or lessen the pain. In the last five years, the FDA has approved several drugs that block CGRP receptors, some taken orally when a migraine strikes and some self-injected monthly or quarterly to prevent migraine attacks from happening.

“We have some patients who tried these and are migraine-free,” Blaya said.

Gonzon, whose headaches started during her preteen years, tried myraid pills and devices, and still found herself disabled by migraines. Blaya’s combination of therapies is the first time her syptoms are less frequent, she says. She has been able to record music in a Los Angeles studio and just released a new single called “Miss Me.”

“Overall the number of days I am suffering is down, but I don’t believe the migraines are going to fully go away,” Garzon said. “Migraine disorders are an invisible disease, and there are not enough advocates for it.”

At the University of Miami Health System, Dr.Teshamae Monteith, chief of the Headache Division, studies migraines and collaborates on research with colleagues.

“Even with all these new therapies, migraine is still tremendously under-diagnosed and undertreated,” Monteith said, “Only a minority of people who have a diagnosis are aware of advances and getting the proper treatment.”

At her clinic, specialists are enrolling patients in trials for several therapies.

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