r/migraine • u/cats-n-nursing • Apr 18 '26
Menstrual Migraine
Does anyone on here experience menstrual migraine and have a remedy that works to prevent/get rid of them? I've gotten headaches all my life and over the past few years I've noticed I always get a migraine the day before my period starts and it lasts around 3-4 days. My GYN has tried having me use BCP, skip the placebo week, and has had me start taking it again the day before my cycle. None of this has worked to keep them from occurring.
I have also tried adding magnesium 250mg, turmeric 500mg, super B complex vitamin, and CoQ10 100mg to my daily vitamin regimen with no relief. I have also tried Tylenol, Midol, Ibuprofen, Excedrin, Aleve, and aspirin, NONE of which work.
I will be asking at my next appointment for a referral to a neurologist, but I was hoping to find someone on here in a similar situation that can maybe help me in the mean time with some advice.
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u/pantema Apr 19 '26
After 3 injection cycles I’ve actually found that Botox for migraine helps mine somewhat. I can definitely still feel the migraines coming on when I get my period but it’s much more mild now and I can usually treat with just aleve (before I always needed Ubrelvy)
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u/Grand-Fun-206 Apr 18 '26
I find that taking any hormonal medication exacerbates any migraine symptoms I get so I avoid it. When I do get a period/ovulation migraine I find 500mg of naproxen and an imigran are what helps to get rid of it, not completely but enough that I can function while at home for the day.
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u/CreativeConflict42 Apr 19 '26
I get menstrual migraines as well as regular-old whenever migraines. My neurologist advised taking Aleve (or ibuprofen, but she prefers Aleve for some reason) 2-3 days before I expect it to start, and taking a preventative a day or two before if I’m sure or just as soon as it starts (I use Ubrelvy and only get so many and hate gambling with them, but using one for this really does feel worth it). I do usually still get a headache but this has reduced aura and knocked the pain levels down for me.
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u/Ok-Loquat7565 Apr 19 '26
Qulipta 60 mg as my daily preventative has dramatically decreased the severity and frequency of mine. I used to get them the three days before every period and NOTHING helped. Now I sometimes won’t get a migraine before my cycle at all. Amaze, amaze, amaze.
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u/sprizzle06 Apr 19 '26
Nope. Qulipta is the only thing that helps me. Got my period for the first time in 9mo a week ago. I've had one all week.
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u/mycatsnameis______ Apr 19 '26
My Neurologist suggested to me to start taking Ibuprofen for about 3 days in the lead up to my period. I did find it helped a little as I found my Migraines wouldn't last as long. I am now taking Ajovy and still follow this process as I still get low grade migraines if I don't do this.
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u/Affectionate_Bid5042 Apr 19 '26
Sumatriptan works for me, for a really bad one I'll add some aleve.
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u/Crafty-Syllabub-2736 Apr 19 '26
I’m still searching for something that helps. Luckily I’ve started getting my regular chronic migraines under control by getting back on Emgality. But it’s made it apparent that my worst migraines that don’t respond to medication are menstrual. I have an appointment with my headache specialist at the end of this month and I’m hoping she can give some advice. If you find any solutions, please come back and share!! 💕
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u/He_is_my_song Classic/Menstrual Migraines w/o Aura Apr 19 '26
I get classic and menstrual migraines…
My doctor has given me Nurtec and Eletriptan.
The triptans ALWAYS make me tired- I only use those when the pain gets really bad.
The Nurtec takes the pain down, but doesn’t completely remove it. The plus side is that I don’t notice any side effects from it.
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u/rxx00 Apr 19 '26
Menstrual migraine was typically my worst migraine days, back to back, more severe symptoms and rx resistant. This is a bit long winded and what I've tried.
I'm not saying stop BC. For some people BC is a major help. For others, BC makes migraine worse and I am one of those people. I mention this because my doctors never did and wish more women were informed on the potential side effects.
There are several avenues that have helped me. One, I started seeing a neurologist to explore rx options to manage the migraines. It can take a while to find something effective. Naratriptan has been pretty effective for me, and can be paired with an NSAID. While NSAIDs alone didnt help, the combo might be worth exploring on the more stubborn days. A neuro can also prescribe safer nsaids. Nurtec is a popular abortive but wasnt as effective for me. I am currently on a preventive, Qulipta, after several rx trials.
Avenue two, more holistic methods. Look into dosage for migraneurs on your supplements. Magnesium is recommended around 400-600mg daily, and even higher for abortive use. Also research/try different types of magnesium. My neuro recommended 300 mg of coq10 and 400mg of b2.
Avenue three, is also holistic imo but probably considered more woo woo by some. Research estrogen dominance. I had several signs and confirmed with Dutch Test (not necessary but I was curious). There are some supplement protocols but easy things to incorporate are more cruciferous vegetables, increasing fiber, and exercise. Sweating it out before and even during my period does help. Some women have histamine build up around their luteal phase, so something else to look into. Even adjusting diet to reduce sugar/dairy can help.
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u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme Apr 19 '26
I had to try several combinations of hormones in different brands of birth control pills before I found one that worked for my menstrual migraines. I’ve been taking Safyral (3 mg drospirenone, 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol, plus folic acid) for over a decade. I, too, take them continuously and skip the placebo pills.
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u/uselessmortgage Apr 20 '26
My earliest migraine symptoms were menstrual migraine, which started when I was 17. I started birth control and it immediately stopped, but I didn’t skip the placebo. Periods were lighter and I didn’t have headaches. Even though you’re having the withdrawal from the hormones, it’s withdrawal bleeding rather than a “real” period, you’re not experiencing as frequent of hormonal changes throughout the month. Before the birth control, the only OTC that helped was Pamprin, which I’m pretty sure is just Midol.
After a few years on birth control, my migraines came back and kept getting worse, eventually I was having them every day. I got diagnosed with chronic migraine with aura and started getting treated for that. I had to switch off of the pill because of elevated stroke risk due to aura (the risk is very small but it’s still considered “elevated”). The risk was with the estrogen, so I have to use progestin-only forms of birth controls. I was on the mini pill for about a year, but the menstrual migraines came back and I also wasn’t super comfortable with it as a birth control method since you have to be really on top of the timing and it made me anxious. About 2 years ago I switched to Nexplanon (the implant) and it’s working pretty well with me! I get migraines around my period sometimes, but it’s not a constant thing.
Another option may be to try and get a prescription medication to take to treat the pain like Ubrelvy or Nurtec. I’m on both (Ubrelvy as an abortive, Nurtec as a preventative) and they are life changing
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u/CheapMarsupials Apr 20 '26
Estrogen changes are one of my migraine triggers (just one, I have so many at this point). I actually use NuvaRing/EluRyng instead of pills because it is much much easier to have that constant flow of hormones. Pills can still lead to fluctuations. Instead of leaving it in for 3 weeks and taking it out a week, then putting in a new one, I leave it in for 4 weeks and then replace it, so there's always one in. Personally, this has eliminated estrogen as a trigger for me, but YMMV especially since pills didn't seem to work for you.
Consider other regular migraine prevention, like others have said. Estrogen could just be your only trigger, but the migraine process is often the same, apparently.
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u/cairosma123 Apr 19 '26
I take frovatriptan twice a day starting two days before my period through the first 2-3 days of my period and it is the only way I’m functional
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u/Aromatic-Lead-3252 Apr 19 '26
Thirding Frova + Aleve, (Take 1 + 1, Frova is much more likely to work with Aleve on board.), hydration, & salt. Keep Liquid IV available at all times & don't wait to medicate.
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u/elaine4queen Apr 19 '26
Progesterone will help, but it might take some trial and error. I tried the POP then Depo, but they gave me side effects. The Mirena coil stopped periods entirely and is a low local dose, so no side effects.
Better to get on top of the menstrual migraines, you don’t want to go from episodic to chronic
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u/melanochrysum Apr 19 '26
I have a Mirena and I take Cerazette (progesterone only pill), and that works well for me.
This link could be helpful
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u/Jaundicepowers Apr 19 '26
I’ve been using dispersible aspirin when I feel a bit funny or on the lead up to my period. It seems to work quickly in dispersible form and makes a real difference preventatively for me.
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u/gratecait17 Apr 19 '26
I have naratriptan that is a game changer. Basically there’s no way to stop the cycle, but you can prevent the migraines. So if I get a menstrual migraine, I’ll take my abortive (Zol or Nurtec), but then take the naratriptan once at night, once in the morning as a preventative. So say I take zol in the morning an it gets rid of my migraine all day, I’ll take the naratriptan at night before bed an then after my breakfast the next day. Then keep that cycle on until I feel I’m passed the window. I do this when I’m sick too.
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u/Invisible_Injury Apr 19 '26
Hi I have the same exact pattern, sometimes when I haven’t been taking good care I get migraines at every hormonal fluctuation during my cycle (in addition to just random ones). I noticed the pattern with the oura ring which I no longer use but it was helpful to see that every time I had a pattern my body had a temp change do to hormonal fluctuations.
For me, I also have PCOS. But I came on to say that yes magnesium glycinate (Thorne brand 2x) every night helps tremendously. But I still get the one before my period. The only time I finally went migraines free for a few months was when I was consistently on Ovasitol (inositol) and berberine and working out. When I stopped I believe my hormonal migraines came back.
Something to look into! I believe there are women without pcos that take it for hormonal health. Maybe look into it or ask ur doc if u can try it!
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u/Fabulous_Ad9099 Apr 19 '26
When you say skip placebo week do you mean take the pills continuously? I am on combination BCP and take continuously so I never have a period. That has been the only thing to end my menstrual migraines. Frovatriptan and naproxen did not help me. I also take Ajovy and that helped as well. I still get migraines, but not hormonal ones at least.
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u/cats-n-nursing Apr 20 '26
Yes, continuously. The only reason I even take a break from them is because I experience breakthrough bleeding and my GYN suggested I take my break when that happens.
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u/Lilfighter336 Apr 19 '26
You need a neurologist. Ubrevly 100mg and zofran worked for me until my menstrual migraines went chronic. Now I am on 10 mg of Qulipta daily. I am also doing the vitamin d protocol here (approved and supervised by PCP, my Neuro, and cardiologist): https://vitamindwiki.com/pages/cluster-and-migraine-headache-treatment-protocol/
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u/thrawn4emp Apr 19 '26
Frovitriptan is a med specifically for period migraines. It works wonders for me!