Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) preventive therapies have expanded treatment options for patients with high migraine burden, addressing a long-standing unmet need in migraine prevention. However, real-world use is influenced by access, administrative, and psychosocial factors that may not be fully captured in clinical trials. Social media listening offers insights into real-world patient and caregiver experiences in routine care. This study characterizes patient and caregiver conversations about CGRP preventive therapies for migraine, focusing on access and navigation, real-world treatment experience, treatment switching, and emotional impact.
METHODS: A retrospective social media listening analysis was conducted from January 2025 to January 2026 using Talkwalker across publicly available social media posts. Predefined CGRP and migraine topic and 15 custom filters across four themes were applied, with automated thematic categorization and sentiment analysis. Post volumes, sentiment drivers, and qualitative insights were reported for each theme and sub-themes.
RESULTS: Across 14.3K posts, Healthcare Access, Navigation & Diagnosis and Impact, Well-Being & Support dominated discussions. The highest-volume sub-themes with negative sentiment were Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health (2,103 posts; 42.6% negative), System Navigation & Practical Barriers (2,257 posts; 35% negative), and Access & Affordability (8,547 posts; 8% negative). Treatment switching was frequently driven by payer constraints, prior authorization requirements, and cost, rather than clinical ineffectiveness. Qualitative discussions highlighted migraine as a complex, comorbid condition managed through individualized, multimodal regimens and supported by online peer communities.
CONCLUSIONS: Social media conversations suggest CGRP preventive therapies improve functioning, but real-world value is constrained by access barriers, administrative burden, heterogeneous experiences, and substantial emotional distress. Strategies addressing coverage hurdles, clinician-led education, shared decision‑making, and mental health support are needed to optimize CGRP use in routine care.