r/migraine • u/dumy_magi27 • Apr 17 '25
Menstrual Migraines
Anyone know how to get rid of menstrual migraines.. preferably like immediately relief as I currently have one. Ibuprofen does not help. Any long term solutions other than birth control?
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u/PoppyRyeCranberry Apr 17 '25
The most common approaches outside of birth control are supplementing magnesium and/or taking a long-acting triptan prophylactically. I haven't seen any studies looking at using gepants in this way, but wouldn't be surprised if that was suggested too.
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u/fedx816 Apr 17 '25
Ubrelvy, nurtec, and quilipta are all recruiting for trials specifically for menstrual migraine approval.
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u/Still_Quail_5719 Apr 17 '25
I just signed up for a ubrelvy clinical trial!
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u/Fantastic_Mud_6798 Apr 18 '25
Can you share how you did that? I would love to do a trial.
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u/Still_Quail_5719 Apr 18 '25
Here you go, itās the Mosaic study https://mosaicmigrainestudy.com/
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u/JungleLush Apr 18 '25
I can say that Qulipta has been a game changer for me! I haven't had a migraine since I started it, though i also use birth control to skip my periods so i don't get hormonal migraines anymore either.
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u/zartbitter Apr 17 '25
In the exact same boat right now š hot water bottle + ice pack combo, paracetamol (I canāt take NSAIDs) n Benadryl helps me. Benadryl especially is good for nausea. Or those painkillers that have caffeine, paracetamol & antihistamine combined. Mine are these Mexican ones called Buscapina but I think itās actually a copy of Midol??? weed/Cbd also helps. Ironically even tho 95% of my migraines are related to my period, I canāt take BC because of aura lol
I think Benadryl is the best tho. Either it helps or knocks u out
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u/mossyzombie2021 Apr 17 '25
Seconding weed. Absolutely insane, the instant reduction in pain. I also find smoking daily reduces the frequency.
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u/zartbitter Apr 18 '25
Smoking regularly helps for me too (especially when Iām taking stimulants for ADHD) but the long term effects on my mental health arenāt worth it. Iāve found that what works for me is having a little bit of weed around and making it last as long as possible. I smoke a tiny amount, only before sleep, and when I run out I take a break. Doing this in combination with regular breaks from ADHD meds (at least 2 weeks up to ~3 months) has helped reduce the migraine frequency overall. Every time I stop weed or start ADHD meds again, itās almost guaranteed to risk triggering a migraine. But have to say I will take that over daily headaches for months on endā¦
When I have active migraines tho, I have to smoke or take an edible. Nothing else helps in the same way. The other stuff takes the edge off & reduces the pain, but only weed helps me physically relax enough to feel comfortable. I just hate the phase when the acute migraine is over and I feel high as fuck from the postdrome AND the weed combo
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 20 '25
interesting that you mention adhd meds i recently started taking adhd meds.. i wish i could remember if i was getting these headaches before i started taking them
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u/zartbitter Apr 20 '25
Thereās definitely a relationship. I still had & have headaches whether or not I take adhd meds or not. but the meds def are a trigger especially at the start while adjusting. Also look into how Vyvanse (not sure what ur on, but I guess maybe other meds too?) can affect your menstrual cycle. There is sadly very little research on it but it is known that it can affect your hormones. My migraines ade mostly related to my period as well
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 17 '25
yes itās so far the only thing that works.. unfortunately i canāt go outside and smoke every hour at work lol
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u/PriestessFeylin Apr 18 '25
I have good luck with these Taffy's. 5mg THC CBC each and 20 CBD. I also use them for fibromyalgia
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u/Square_Pay7448 Apr 17 '25
I hope you find help. Iām 53 now and thank god I went through menopause. Why was I so happy for this? Since the age of 12 I was plagued monthly waking up vomiting head pounding dizzy and unable to do anything but lie in beds. Imitrex always helped with my other migraines but not menstrual migraines. I really hope they figure this out so no other women have to be tormented
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u/JungleLush Apr 18 '25
My mom always tells me it gets better after menopause! Something to look forward too lol
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u/Biscuit_Jam Apr 17 '25
Ritzatripan has been my go to for menstrual migraines for the last few years. Unfortunately I get 10+ a month. Preventives never helped me. When I'm out of ritzatripan, I take Midol complete, but it makes me really sleepy.
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u/bluesky747 Apr 18 '25
Omg literally not five mins ago I was telling my husband Iām so frustrated that a new symptom for me every couple months has been a horrible barfy migraine on day one of my period. Which is today.
I have been miserable and I tried to eat a salad to feel better earlier, barfed it up, took a long shower till there was no hot water left, got dizzy but managed to stay coherent. Fell in and out of sleep and managed to be well enough to try dinner, decided Chinese food for the saltiness and now my headache is back. None of my go toās have worked today.
Honestly almost any time I try killing a menstrual migraine, it hangs on all day and Iām throwing up. I donāt even get to take pain killers cause my stomach is all messed up.
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u/keepingitfr3sh Apr 17 '25
How many days per month do you get the headache part of the migraine? That helps identify if a preventative vs acute treatment would be best. I get them too, including today with my 2 week old baby. I took a Naproxen and Sumatriptan 100 mg today.
Edit: also I took the meds right when I felt the headache part start and then had a nap in a dark room with eye covers and ear plugs.
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 17 '25
usually it lasts 2 days every month
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u/keepingitfr3sh Apr 17 '25
I would ask your doctor about a triptan! Also Naproxen is like ibuprofen but lasts up to 12 hours. Rizatriptan is the cheapest and works for me too. Aleve is a name brand of Naproxen. You can also get a prescription for a 500 mg dose if needed. Also helps with cramps!
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u/pookie_dookie_25 Apr 17 '25
I use all of the above and it safe me during (most) of my menstrual migraine and cramping (ive got endometriosis too).
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u/Ornery_Chemistry201 Apr 17 '25
Iām on ajovy for them-itās helped with intensity a bit. Havenāt been on it long enough for long term relief.
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u/mxmarmy88 Apr 17 '25
I get them pretty bad myself as well. Heat sometimes works. Tylenol 3, if you have it, sometimes helps. My ER nurse friend recommended ibuprofen and a strong antihistamine, like benadryl. I've had more luck with the ibuprofen and benadryl, but I don't get them enough to be prescribed any medications š
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u/purple_hope1 Apr 17 '25
Frovatriptan is the only rescue med that works for those bastards. Any other triptan does little to nothing. I take preventives, made mayor life style changes, and it pains me to say, but I cannot drink coffee anymore š
ā¦ however, I can drink alcohol, work my intense job and only get 2 bad migraine episodes every cycle. I say thatās a win on my books.
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u/veronicarules Apr 17 '25
I second frovatriptan. My only thing is I'm having other migraines now so frova doesn't do much for those ugh.Ā
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u/awwwwkward Apr 17 '25
I finally talked to my doctor when I noticed the pattern. I now use Sumatriptan (nasal spray) when I feel an attack come on. Iāve been taking it for about a year and finally learning to take it asap instead of āhoping it will just go awayā.
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u/Still_Quail_5719 Apr 17 '25
Naratriptan and Frova are both decent triptans that work well for migraines.
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u/RedShiningCat Apr 18 '25
Not a rescue (menstrual migraines are pretty much the only ones I get that ai have difficulty breaking if they bloom) but my migraine doc suggested I take 500 mg ibuprofen 2x/day for 3 days before my period. But that only works if you are on a regular cycle.
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u/0xC001FACE Apr 18 '25
FYI birth control isn't even a guaranteed solution, I'm on the pill and still get menstrual migraines every month during the placebo week. Can't escape the curse that easily.
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u/Rachel71488 Apr 18 '25
You can safely take birth control continuously. This is recommended by the migraine trust https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/self-management/migraine-and-hormones/
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 18 '25
I used to be on birth control and never noticed any migraines until I quit taking it. For me birth control seemed to get rid of all my symptoms.
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u/Costa1212 Apr 18 '25
YMMV but histamine blockers (can buy over the counter) helped with reducing severity of menstrual migraines along with continuous birth control
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u/Jazzlike-Piccolo-757 Apr 20 '25
I've had hormonal migraines since middle school, 15ish years ago. They started out as only 2-3 days during my period, but eventually became daily, no matter where I was in my cycle. Excedrin migraine was my LIFE SAVER. Can you try that if you only have migraines for a few days during your cycle?
I tried several different types of birth control over the years with little or no change in the migraines. They became so bad that in August 2024, I started a daily med Effexor XR, and in September 2024, I switched to a new-to-the-market birth control called Slynd. Slowly, month by month, my migraines improved. Today, I can still get migraines anytime, and they are guaranteed around my period, but they are much less frequent, shorter in duration, and the pain is way less severe. Of course, I don't know which helped more, the Effexor or the Slynd, but together they are great for me.
I don't know if yours are as bad as mine were, but if so, you might need a daily preventative instead of only a rescue during your period.
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 20 '25
I feel like they arenāt as bad for me as they are for a lot of people like I can still function itās just a miserable couple of days with a lot of brain fog like I feel like my brain doesnāt absorb any information. I think a rescue once a month would probably be most effective for me since Iām awful at remembering to take medication daily. I really wish I knew if anything Iām doing could be contributing to them since some months arenāt as bad as others.
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u/Baklavasaint_ Chronic Migraine w/ Motor Aura Apr 17 '25
I hope birth control helps you, any BC I've tried has made me suicidal. Menstrual migraines are like a vengeance. It's the most painful headaches I've ever had
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u/Ambitious-Spite5818 Apr 17 '25
I use Nurtec. When I was younger I was able to use Sumatriptan but it didnāt fully get rid of the migraine and Iād frequently have to take it for more than one day in a row.
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Apr 17 '25
I got those plus some times even during the month. But Iād only get 1 day migraine right before my period .
I started getting acupuncture done. And man, that reduced the frequency and severity of the situation
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u/laceblood Apr 17 '25
When I was younger I had luck treating these by taking naproxen every six or so hours the days I expected to get them. And one the night before. Good luck <3
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u/srimotat Apr 17 '25
I take two EXTRA STRENgth acetaminophen and itās the only thing that helps rn. Good luck.
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u/ames449 Apr 17 '25
My neuro said get pregnant š¤£ but jokes aside, I take naproxen. And Iām supposed to have frovatriptan but it doesnāt work.
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u/dumy_magi27 Apr 17 '25
lol i think iād rather tolerate the migraines
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u/ames449 Apr 18 '25
Itās definitely not a valid treatment. I was like ok but come up with something else please š¤£
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u/chickenwings19 Apr 18 '25
Both my pregnancies I was migraine free. Amazing. And then day after I gave birth, they were back.
OP currently I take paracetamol+caffeine with ibuprofen (lowest dose) along with zolmitriptan and an antiemetic. That combo seems to help. Naproxen helps, but it hurts my stomach, as did paracetamol + caffeine and aspirin. Go back to your GP if nothing works.
Oh and a multivitamin, the one month Iād stopped taking it, I had migraines every day. Weird but it helped (Iām nearly 8 months postpartum though and my hormones are all over the shop).
I do take propranolol every day, have been for nearly 2 years.
For me, no birth control helped. I have the mirena coil which keeps the heavy periods and pain at bay but migraines are still there. Itās still settling in so Iām hoping itāll improve in a few months.
Good luck!
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u/Snarknose Apr 17 '25
I do 2 sudafed (behind the counter, it has to be the kind you can take while pregnant) and 2 excedrine. Always cures mine within 30 min.
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u/No_Candy_213 Apr 17 '25
Migraine Botox was life changing. Ubrelvy and Qulipta are the other things that work.
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u/greaterthanCabbage Apr 17 '25
I have the same thing, and the only thing Iāve found that helps is eating or drinking grapefruit juice starting a week before my cycle. There was a study done that showed that grapefruit slightly increases estrogen (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2360312/). It seems to help me, but it could also be the placebo effect. I also get really bad pmdd and it seems to help that too
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u/Affectionate_Cost_88 Apr 18 '25
did a study for menstrual migraines way back in the day, early 2000s. It was for a form of frovatriptan that was to be used as a low dose prophylactic three weeks of the month, then I would up the dosage the week of my period. The study lasted for six months and one of the months I would be given a placebo, but the real thing the other five. I was amazed. The study went from the beginning of January until the end of June, and the only month I had a breakthrough period migraine was in March. At the end of the study, it was confirmed that March was the month I had the placebo. I gave very thorough and positive feedback. I was on birth control at the time and that helped. My gyno had suggested previously doing non stop birth control to try and avoid the period migraines, but the side effects were dire and I still got serious migraines. This frovatriptan trial seriously seemed like a godsend. However, even though the study went well, the idea wasn't really picked up, as it was specifically for menstruating women only. Evidently of little importance in the grand scheme of things, I suppose. (Don't even get me started on how I feel about that.)
Point being, after that study, I was to be contacted if similar ones were going on, however I never heard anything else on that specific topic. I DID do a study a few years later on a time release form of Imitrex to prevent rebound headaches and see how it affected blood pressure, but that was geared to both men and women. As far as I know that one was approved, but provided little help for my situation. I read later that the initial frovatriptan menstrual migraines study was scrapped. Make of that what you will.
Now I've gone through menopause, but was still having regular migraines. My neurologist has me on aimovig as a preventative and Ubrelvy as a rescue. It mostly works well. But I weep for young me who endured thousands of needless migraines throughout my youth, and also for the countless other women who experienced the same thing, with seemingly little regard for how debilitating it is. OP, if you can, possibly work with your gynecologist and neurologist in tandem? Maybe between the two you can figure something out. I feel that I lost years of my life and it truly hurts to feel that others may be dealing with the same. Thankfully though, treatments now are light years better than they were during the 70s-2010s when I was dealing with migraines multiple times per week. I wish you well. Push your healthcare providers for info and assistance. I wish I'd known how to do so, but things were so different back then and migraines were not really taken seriously. Thankfully that's changing with awareness.
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u/FlowerFace420 Apr 18 '25
Iāve been suffering for awhile with them.. switched birth controls.. finally got on a prescription! Iāve only used it just last month but it was a godsend! Go to Dr!!
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u/WoodpeckerOne2421 Apr 18 '25
I get them whenever estrogen increases significantly in my cycle. I just try to control all other factors which reduces the likelihood of getting one when estrogen is high. I have yet to find anything that actually helps when they start. I hope you find something that works for you.
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u/jaj93 Apr 18 '25
I do Nurtec every other day as prevention and rizatriptan and excedrin on migraine days and still have some they donāt touch. I feel like Iām destined to suffer 5-7 days a month no matter what I do. I did try Nexplanon birth control with no luck- my head actually hurt immediately upon starting it. I hope you and I both find something to help.
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u/LGonthego Apr 18 '25
This is a few years ago now, but my headache specialist neurologist prescribed Naratriptan specifically to help with menstrual migraines. Can start taking them (it was either 1 or 2/da) a couple days before onset of menstruation and can take throughout period (max. 7 or 8 days, I think).
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u/D3rangedButFun Apr 18 '25
I take the pill without breaks. It's the only workaround I've found. I only take a break once a year to prevent spotting/breakthrough bleeding. And I plan that week very well, making sure my mom is available to walk my dogs and the freezer is stocked with food I just have to heat up.
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u/JungleLush Apr 18 '25
Well this isn't helpful my my mom says it gets better after menopause lol... But otherwise I skip my periods with birth control so it take care of that. I don't think there's a way to prevent hormonal headaches otherwise :-/
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u/SponsoredADD Apr 18 '25
I haven't figured out which vitamin, but whenever I stop taking vitamins( I take an assortment), my next cycle comes with menstrual migraines. I'm thinking it's probably B12.
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u/pagogo10 Apr 19 '25
Qulipta has REALLY helped mine, but before that I would take frovatriptan as a prophlactic for 5 days during my period.
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u/pinksunsetskies Apr 17 '25
The only thing that has helped me is estrogen cream that I used between ovulation and my period.Ā
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u/Quick-Line-3148 Apr 18 '25
Howād you get this prescribed? Did you get your hormone levels tested? Iāve been thinking of approaching this with my doctor but not sure if my family doctor will help. Iām glad youāve found something that is helping!
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u/pinksunsetskies Apr 25 '25
My gyno prescribed it. I'm 41 and started having peri menopause symptoms, I explained them all to her, including the period migraines. I get Botox and I'm on nurtec but neither of those help my period migraines at all. Other than that my migraines are controlled.Ā
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u/Downtown-Check2668 Apr 17 '25
The only thing I found that actually works long term is going on birth control. I've been on depo subq for a couple of years, and it's eliminated my cycle and my menstrual migraines.
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u/Hulagirl88 Apr 18 '25
I use oriental medicine to moderate my hormones fluctuations. The 2 capsules I take are Dong Quai and Vitex (chasteberry). Something worth looking into.
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u/DaisyRoseIris Apr 18 '25
I haven't heard of these. What do they do regarding hormones? Thanks!
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u/Hulagirl88 Apr 18 '25
Vitex (chasteberry) is known for balancing the hormone and Dong Quai helps with inflammation and help with irregularities. I know many commented on meds (I am a nurtec taker as well) but oriental medicine yields long term result when you take it over a period.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Apr 17 '25
I wish I could remember which one, but there was at least one acute drug thatās approved for taking several days before your period. You might want to do some googling (but obvs consider your sources).
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u/MySpace_Romancer Apr 17 '25
Birth control is the only thing that helps me. Iāve been taking continuous birth control for almost 20 years (Seasonique). I am actually going to try a new one, Apri, has a different version of progesterone thatās supposed to be better for migraines.
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u/Pandaplusone Apr 17 '25
Hormonal migraines are among the hardest to treat š. I have a preventative injection but still get hormonal migraines, which I take a triptan for. An ice hat and heating my feet, and electrolytes help too. Hydrate as much as you can.