of magnesium citrate taken in 3 divided doses have been used to help prevent migraine headaches. Side effects are rare, but higher doses of magnesium tend to have a laxative-like effect. Other side effects include low blood pressure, thirst, fatigue and muscle weakness. There are many possible drug interactions with magnesium. Ask your Peoples Pharmacist if higher doses of magnesium are safe to take with your medications. I feel this option should be seriously considered by anyone who regularly gets migraine headaches. It is thought that low magnesium is a major, unrecognized health concern.
.....Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is also useful in helping to prevent migraine headaches. Consider taking extra vitamin B2 if you are also taking birth control pills or tricyclic antidepressants. These two medications may interfere with your body’s ability to process this vitamin. Doses of 400mg per day have been used to help reduce the frequency of migraine. Regular supplementation of vitamin B2 |
for three months may be required to see positive results. Side effects include stomach upset and increased urination. Vitamin B2 can cause an orange-yellowish discoloration of the urine.
.....CoQ10 is a supplement that has recently shown the ability to help reduce the frequency of migraines. This supplement may be particularly useful for people who are taking ‘statins’ to reduce blood pressure. The ‘statins’ reduce the amount of this vital nutrient in the body. Doses of 100mg three times a day for three months are often needed to see results. One study showed that people who took CoQ10 had a 45% reduction in the number of migraine headache attack days. The side effects of stomach upset and heartburn are seen in less than 1% of people who take this supplement.
.....A new supplement, that will be available soon, is a standardized herbal extract of Butterbur, Petasites hybridus. In one study, this supplement reduced the frequency of migraine attacks by 48%. |
It also appears to be helpful in reducing the severity of allergic rhinitis.
.....Calling migraine headaches a minor problem is a great understatement. The pain and suffering caused by this acute medical condition can be debilitating to those afflicted. It is hard to describe the pain to someone who has never had a migraine. If you know someone who suffers from migraines, there are many things that you can do to help. Make sure they have enough of their medication(s) on hand. Help them to fill out their migraine journal, so they don’t forget what they ate or did. Being supportive and trying to reduce their stress levels is always a good idea. Lastly, get them to talk to the Peoples Pharmacist to see what supplements or medications may help to reduce the frequency of their migraines. After all, a little less pain is the world is always a good thing. .
Written By Ian Lloyd, Pharmacist & Chartered Herbalist
Peoples Pharmacy, Victoria |
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