Novartis launches digital campaign for migraine sufferers

Pharma company Novartis UK has launched a new digital campaign to help people living with migraines be less fearful of their condition.

To mark Migraine Awareness Week 2019, Novartis UK has teamed up with actress and cookery presenter Lisa Faulkner to launch the Tame Your Migraine campaign.

A survey of over 11,000 people showed that 62% of people living with migraine often feel hopeless or helpless due to their condition, with other research from the National Migraine Centre  suggesting that 92% of people's outlook on life would change if they were less fearful of their condition.

While there are a range of preventative treatments, migraines are unique to each person they affect, turning up unexpectedly with varying levels of pain and intrusion.

Novartis’ Tame Your Migraine campaign is about containing the fear of migraine and the anxiety the condition brings. The campaign includes an online resource designed to inspire people living with frequent migraine to bring back some of the control that their migraine currently holds.

The campaign launches this week with advertising directing people to the Tame Your Migraine website. The website includes a migraine assessment tool, guiding users through a series of questions to produce a personalised migraine impact report and downloadable appointment checklist.

“When Novartis approached me about this campaign my overwhelming feeling was one of relief. As someone that endures at least two migraines a month, with each lasting for a few days, I often find it frustrating that there isn’t more recognition and understanding around the impact that this disabling condition can have”, said Lisa Faulkner, Tame Your Migraine campaign ambassador. “Until now, migraine has called the shots. But we want to inspire people to ask for more from their care. If I can help one person have another conversation with their doctor about the options available to them, this campaign will have been a success.”

Dr Giorgio Lambru, consultant neurologist and headache specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, said: “Some people will have their migraine managed by a GP. Those who experience severe, frequent migraines that are not being effectively controlled may benefit from seeing a doctor who specialises in neurological disorders, including headache. It is important for people living with migraine to aim for the most appropriate treatments tailored to their condition and to ensure that their level of care is proportionate to the level of disability caused by their migraine.”

Haseeb Ahmad, managing director UK, Ireland and Nordics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals & Country President UK, added: “We consulted with a number of people living with chronic migraine as part of the development of this campaign. They told us that their lives are dictated by migraine and that they’ve simply had enough. That’s why Tame Your Migraine has a singular purpose – to equip people living with migraine with tools they can use to take back some of the control that migraine steals. By developing a user-friendly resource that enables people to assess, and communicate, the true impact that migraine is having on their life, we hope it helps people to have more effective conversations with their doctor.”