Vitamins for Migraine Sufferers

Written By Genelle C

Throughout his life, my husband has endured frequent migraine attacks, which intensified starting in 2023. Migraines, as anyone familiar with them knows, are excruciating and can severely limit daily functioning. Often striking in the dead of night and persisting well into the following day, these episodes prompted me to exhaustively research both natural and conventional remedies. Despite experimenting with a multitude of products, only a few offered slight relief, leaving us feeling disheartened. After numerous trials and errors, I resolved to collate our successful interventions into a comprehensive guide, aiming to assist others in similar predicaments. Thanks to these efforts, my husband's migraine frequency has reduced significantly from 4-5 occurrences a week to a mere 1-2 times monthly – a transformation nothing short of miraculous.

What We Tried

Before jumping into it, I want to go over what we tried in case anyone is wondering why we didn’t try x, y, or z…

  • Conventional Doctors

    We consulted various doctors in search of a solution. The initial visit was to his primary physician, who prescribed muscle relaxers and migraine medication, both ineffective. A pain specialist then prescribed a pain killer, which was actually less effective than over-the-counter options. After trying five different medications, we abandoned this approach. The pain specialist diagnosed Michael with Occipital Neuralgia. He suggested an MRI, revealing spine/neck compression and proposing surgeries as a final recourse. Reluctant to pursue surgery, we sought further opinions. Despite visits to his primary doctor and the pain specialist yielding no results, an appointment with a neurologist was scheduled six months later. The neurologist found that Michael was misdiagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia, and instead suggested supplements and migraine medication to help prevent his migraines.

  • Alternative Doctors

    Given my background, I advocate for the integration of alternative and conventional medicine in addressing health concerns. Initially, I enlisted Michael in physical therapy and chiropractic care. After exploring various options, we identified a clinic offering a program 2-3 days a week tailored to neck strengthening, stretching, and realignment, which he continues 2-4 times monthly even now. Additionally, regular massage therapy was introduced, which I feel has helped him a lot too. Although acupuncture was experimented with for a period, the results were not significant from our perspective.

  • Conventional Remedies

    Michael experimented with a variety of medications to alleviate his symptoms, including muscle relaxers, prescription painkillers, and migraine medication. However, none of these treatments yielded significant relief, with the accompanying side effects often outweighing any potential benefits. Even dissolvable anti-nausea medication exacerbated his condition rather than improving it. Ultimately, Michael found that conventional over-the-counter painkillers and anti-nausea remedies were the most effective during his episodes, which I will list below.

  • Natural Remedies

    I experimented with various migraine remedies such as homeopathy, topical treatments, CBD products, hot and cold medicated patches, essential oils, and supplements. The effectiveness of homeopathic products was inconsistent and challenging to determine. It became evident that a preventative approach was more beneficial than solely relying on natural remedies during a migraine episode. I also explored anti-nausea options, as Michael experiences severe nausea with migraines. In addition to conventional methods, we tested several natural remedies like anti-nausea lozenges, inhalers, homeopathy, and sprays. While most natural alternatives provided limited relief, a few showed minor effectiveness.

What Has Helped for prevention

  1. Diet and Lifestyle Changes

    Michael and I have made significant lifestyle changes to prevent his migraines. One key adjustment has been reducing alcohol intake to alleviate inflammation that was triggering migraine attacks. We now limit alcohol consumption to before 6:30pm and avoid sugary drinks to minimize inflammation. Additionally, we have incorporated more fruits and vegetables into his diet through juices, smoothies, and nutritional packets. Cutting out excess sugar, gluten, and dairy has also been crucial. Daily walks, stretching, and exercises from physical therapy are now part of his routine. Michael now prioritizes his mental health by attending therapy sessions to manage stress effectively.

  2. Supplements

    I spent a significant amount of time researching supplements, and I believe the supplement routine he is on has made one of the biggest differences in the frequency of his migraines. Here’s what he takes:

    - Men’s over 40 multi-vitamin by New Chapter
    -     Alpha Lipoic Acid
    -     Magnesium Glycinate
    -     Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)
    -     CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
    -     Vitamin D-3 1,000 IU
    -     Turmeric Curcumin Plus Organic Ginger & BioPerine
    -     Krill Oil
    -     Glucosamine & Chondroitin
    -     Systemic Enzyme Complex
    -     Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics
    -     Plant Calcium Bone Strength

What Has Helped During Episodes

  1. Over-the-Counter Medications

    I discovered a powdered form of over-the-counter painkillers that provide faster and more effective relief for migraines caused partially by muscle or neck tension. We have found that this medication is more effective than pill forms, particularly the combination of Aspirin and Acetaminophen, which demonstrates notable efficacy.

    For nausea, we found after trying so many different things that this over-the-counter anti-nausea works the best and quickest.

  2. Heating Pads

    Michael finds more relief from heat therapy than from ice or cold therapy. Among the options available, microwave heat packs are preferable over electric heating pads. They offer better heat control and are safer to use while falling asleep.

  3. Electrolytes, Magnesium and Vitamin C Drink

    When Michael experiences a migraine attack, I usually prepare a mixture containing electrolytes, magnesium, and vitamin C. Cove offers a specialized powder for migraines that can be combined with a vitamin C sachet and water. I usually also include some CBD in the drink as well.

  4. Other Things That Help

Genelle C
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