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Menstrual Migraine Treatment

According to the London Migraine Clinic, 60 percent of women who get migraines do so around their period. Approximately 12 percent of those women have a migraine during their period, with the others having it during their premenstrual time (see References). Treatment is multi-faceted, including drugs, journaling and lifestyle changes.

  1. Preventative Drugs

    • According to "Migraine Headaches" (Monica Rhodes, 2007), these medications are taken every day in order to prevent migraines from happening. They don't work to kill the pain once a menstrual migraine starts. These include blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers; antidepressants and anti-seizure medication such as Topamax (topimirate).

    Abortive Drugs

    • These drugs are taken as soon as the woman realizes that a migraine has begun. These include over the counter painkillers such as acetaminophen and a combination of acetaminophen and caffeine and aspirin. Prescription medication includes triptans such as Imitrex (sumatriptan) and ergot derivatives such as Cefergot. Only in extreme cases are narcotic drugs such as Demerol or Oxycodone prescribed.

    Journaling

    • The Mayo Clinic recommends that women keep a daily record of when they have their period but also when they have migraines. Knowing when the period is due can help a woman plan events around a migraine. Keeping a migraine journal can help identify other migraine triggers such as cloudy weather, certain foods or lack of sleep. In this way, these triggers can be avoided or managed.

    Hormone Treatment

    • In the book "Menstrual Migraine" (Susan B. Hutchinson, et al, 2008), it is suggested that use of the contraceptive pill can help women with irregular periods to have a regular cycle. Sometimes, this can help women have fewer migraines in a month. Furthermore, women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause may get more migraines or more severe migraines until menopause is over.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • "Menstrual Migraine" also recommends that a woman with menstrual migraines should get regular sleep, cut back on caffeine and alcohol and learn how to manage stress in order to help reduce migraines. It also suggests biofeedback, mediation or guided imagery as a way to reduce stress.

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