The path to chronic migraine relief can be a long and trifling one, embedded with forks in the road, dead ends and detours. Because everyone responds to treatment differently, there’s no telling what will work for you and what won’t. Here enters the dreaded game of trial and error. Some medications won’t work at all. Some will work a little and others will work a lot, but might be accompanied by nasty side effects that make relief from pain not worth the exchange for other symptoms. And then there’s the question – “what are the long-term effects of taking prescription strength medications?”
CoQ10 & Migraines
Some experts believe promising results can be achieved without prescription medication and focus their attention on natural remedies, instead. One such remedy is a supplement called coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, for short. But to understand how it may influence your condition, you’ll need to know more about what might actually be causing your migraines.
A Migraine Theory
You’ve likely read a thousand times – the cause of migraines is unknown and for the most part, that’s true. However, elevated awareness regarding the seriousness of chronic migraines has influenced a spike in research and some interesting theories are beginning to surface.
You may also be interested in: 5 Supplements Every Chronic Migraine Suffer Should Know
It is possible that migraines are caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrials are organelles that live inside your body’s cells. Their job is to generate cellular energy (adenosine triphosphate (ATP)). When mitochondrials are unhealthy due to sickness, oxidization or excessive free radicals in the body, they can die off, causing your body to increase its production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (small proteins) – which may directly lead to migraine attacks.
CoQ10 for Migraines
CoQ10 helps the body to regenerate mitochondrials because it is an antioxidant that is lipophilic (attracted to water) and hydrophilic (attracted to fatty cell parts). This combined quality makes CoQ10 a highly absorbable antioxidant that is taken in by every single cell in the body to eliminate the oxidization that may be depleting your mitochondrial levels.
Here’s another article about natural migraine treatments: Migraine Treatment: Chiropractic Therapy
Studies Supporting CoQ10
In one study, 31 migraine patients were given CoQ10 at 150mg per day for three months. About two thirds of the test group experienced more than a 50% reduction in migraine attacks per month and 94% reported at least a 25% reduction.
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In a larger study, 1,550 migraine sufferers between the age of 3 and 22 were analyzed for their CoQ10 levels. 33% showed reduced amounts and were given a CoQ10 supplement to compensate for the deficiency. They reported having less migraine attacks.
Learn why people try natural migraine relief in this article: 4 Fears Behind Migraine Medications
You & CoQ10
Some individual have a deficient amount of mitochondrials because of the types of medications they already take like birth control pills, hormone replacement drugs, diabetes medications, antacids and statins. Warning signs that your body might not have a healthy level of mitochondrial include:
- Migraines
- Cardiovascular problems
- High blood pressure
- Trouble regulating blood sugar levels
- Stomach ulcers
- Poor gum health (gingival)
Although supplements like CoQ10 are natural and do not possess the harsh side effects associated with prescription strength medications, certain side effects are possible and supplement may negatively counteract with other medications. For this reason, it is extremely important to first consult with your physician before deciding to incorporate CoQ10 into your migraine treatment regimen. They will be able to help you determine if CoQ10 is a safe treatment option for your chronic migraine pain.
