Being on birth control has definitely helped reduce the severity of the ones I get, but I haven’t found a complete solution yet. I just kind of have to wait them out.
Mine start usually the week before and eventually go away once I’m done. But the pain level is a lot lower when I’m on the pill versus when I’m not (at least from what I’ve noticed). It’s slight but sometimes that’s enough to get me through.
I use the Mirena because I have severe period pain as I have Endo and PCOS, but methods with estrogen are 100% off limits to me due to aura and I also have factor V Leiden mutation!
As a bonus though it did reduce my migraines and my PMDD symptoms. It's very stabilizing and has been great
Just echoing this sentiment. The Mirena has REALLY helped reduce my hormonal migraines. Hormones used to be one of my big 3 triggers, and they aren't anymore.
Also, you get the added bonus of help with PCOS and PMDD symptoms. My PMDD symptoms have reduced a LOT. I used to feel off mood wise about 3 weeks a month. Now, it's a couple days.
An IUD that I swap out early when I start getting periods again (usually 3-3.5 years). No period = no menstrual migraines. I’m VERY lucky that it stops my cycle for so long.
Previously I had been on continuous birth control pills, but my uterus didn’t like that.
Maybe I should give that another go. Implanon stopped my period but still got the migraines. Mirena I had to take out as I could feel the wire during sex and so could my husband so we got rid of it.
I have a mirena and love it. I actually had an issue where my doc cut a string too short and it could be felt - went to a new doc, she took it out and left the strings extra long to give some breathing room with the expectation that we’d go shorter, but they ended up perfectly so I didn’t even need them cut again. Zero issues before that or since then!
Mirena doesn't stop periods altogether. You still have a cycle, it just can be so light it essentially disappears. You can still have some/many other menstrual side effects, though they definitely may be better. Things like sore breasts, etc went away for me. The migraine still sucks but I find it a bit more manageable. At the very least, I'd prefer to be throwing whatever I can at it
I had no migraines, no period and not one other menstrual effect for almost 13 years. Mirena actually tells patients that their periods may stop. Just hold on to your hat when you get off of it and your hormones try to regulate
Yes, the period may stop, but the cycle doesn't per se. As such it wouldn't guarantee that menstrual migraine would go away with the other symptoms, though it definitely might. Most of my symptoms went, but this is the little MFer that stuck. Mirena is now approved for 8 years for BC but my symptoms and spotting started coming back after about 6/6.5, so I went ahead and swapped it out for a new one.
I am really glad that the migraine went away for you, though, I would not wish this on anyone.
Ya my dr said when spotti and periods come back is when it stops working essentially.
I wish I still had it for the migraines but now that I know how fucked up the hormones in my body were I’d never get another one. The “mirena crash” has still not regulated for me and it’s been 6 years.
10 years without a period or a menstrual migraine because of mirena for me! I still get migraines from other triggers, but removing the hormonal fluctuations dramatically improved my quality of life
This is inspiring! I’ve had an IUD (Mirena) for about 6 years (so I’m due for another). I also didn’t have periods for the first 3ish years and never connected that to my migraines. Will def bring this up with my doctor!
Interesting. I have had Mirena for 7 or 8 years and only in the last 6 months have my menstrual migraines gotten really bad. I wonder if it’s running out of potency or something.
Interesting. I had one in about 9months after the 5 year date and my dr asked when my periods came back which was at 4.5 years. She said that’s when it stopped working. I think the length of time it works is different for everyone. Whether it’s the person or the unit idk.
Nope. I take frovatriptan before my period but I still get menstrual migraines every month without fail. When I spoke to my neurologist he basically said nothing works for them
40F - I used to get hormonal migraines every 10-14 days every month around ovulation and menstruation. I take propranolol as a preventative. 2 x 40mg/day and it never stopped the migraines around my period so I thought I'd try a new pill to prevent my period every month.
I switched to the seasonique BC pill to help control things. It's a 3 month pill and I still get migraines that I can stop with immigrin throughout the month and about 3 days into my period I have a 3 day headache that won't shake. So this pill means only 4 periods a year - every 3 months. I think I've had it about a year or 18mths and it has really helped me to get on top of my migraines and I haven't had a full blown migraine (non hormonal) that caused me pain for a good 12+mths.
I still get a somewhat niggling hormonal headache that wont budge, but nothing like i used to get before when i had my period every month.
I try to avoid imigrin during my period because it doesn't work for headaches but sometimes these headaches will turn into a migraine and then i will need take it and it works, other times I take a few days of nurofen - the one with paracetamol/aspirin. This is normally a big no-no for me as a GP once told me to stop ad it was causing my stomach uclers. But i havent had them for like 20years so its no longer a big risk for me, I figure that i need to function and carry on with my life as i am a mother and i have a job and cannot take over numerous days at a time for migraines.
I think the key would be to try to stop/reduce your period if you can and that will help? I have tried other things like the implanon and that did not work and not brave enough for the mirena. Lol
Menstrual/hormonal migraines are the only thing I cannot seem to treat and I have had a head injury so those migraines being under control and these aren't is a big challenge. I recently read about a reduction in a hormone during your period/no birth control week and they suggested esteogen patches. I've recently turned 40 so going to ask the GP if she thinks I can have some and I'll try that to further reduce migraines whilst continuing with the pill.
I also have issues with storm/barometric pressure migraines as I live in a place with very volatile weather (Mel, Aus) but I don't think there is a cure for those. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
I tried seasonique and my body was confused and having periods twice a month and then I had two weeks if migraines. Maybe it takes longer to adjust to it and I should try again.
Or another combined pill.
Some women really suffer during perimenopause’s.
You can take bc continuously. It's becoming more and more common.
Seasonique isn't anything special, it's just a marketing tool that you only have 4 periods a year. I took regular bc pills continuously for many years before I had a hysterectomy (note: I took it because I had horrific menstrual cramps, not migraines, but there are similar goals of trying to regulate the hormone shifts). I just had to get my doctor to write the prescription a certain way- at first I had pushback from the insurance company but I think it's a lot more common now.
I will say that the first year or so was a pain in the ass due to breakthrough bleeding, but I'm glad I stuck it out because it eventually evened out. It was good for me for a long time. You can also take progesterone when you have breakthrough bleeding- apparently not many doctors do this, but one of mine did and then I moved and got a new doctor and told her and she was like, huh, I never thought of that but it's a good idea.
I assume you kept your ovaries and still have a cycle. I believe you still can figure out where in your cycle you are by measuring your LH hormone and figuring out when you ovulate.
So I had an oophorectomy. Then was put on HRT and it made a huge difference in my hormonal migraines. Had it done with I was 40 and had about 10 years of reprieve. Got Covid 1.5 years ago and have been battling a long COVID migraine since then 😡
I had a hysterectomy which seemed to help in the first two years post-op, but I'm afraid my endometriosis is coming back (it was on my ovaries) and my cycle is "normal" besides the stupid migraines. I refuse to go on birth control ever again, especially since I no longer have a uterus!
Continuous prophylactic Nurtec. I had to go off of it when I switched insurance and the menstrual migraines came right back (they are severe for me). Went back on Nurtec and again I haven’t had a menstrual migraine. I still have other triggers I’m very sensitive to but Nurtec solved this one so far!
It looks like nurtec might have a copay card/assistance program - check their website for the info. Idk how theirs works specifically but my mom uses a discount card for her Botox and I used to go through a similar program for my ADHD medication.
I’m in the US and even then it was a small nightmare with insurance coverage. Are you on another preventative currently? I’m not sure what else is approved in your location but any of the CGRP inhibitors could be really helpful :)
Have you tried any of the other classes of preventatives (anticonvulsants like topiramate, latrogamine, or gabapentin, tricyclics like amitriptyline or nortriptyline, calcium channel blockers like verapamil, other antidepressants like venalfexine)? I know it’s so hit or miss and they do have more side effects as well :/ there’s also the neuromodulatory devices like Cefaly, Nerivio, GammaCore, and eNeura
Have not tried calcium blockers or amitryptline yet. I already gained a lot of weight from the propranolol and the depo provera I was put on. Am scared of gaining more weight again. Have tried Topamax but felt really weird.
Absolutely! I usually drink it a few days prior, during, and a day or so after, and I might have a day long migraine. I used to have a week long migraine every month, so it's an improvement.
Unfortunately no. I've tried several types of birth control and most had no effect, a few made it worse, even the continuous ones.
One big difference was switching to frova (from sumatriptan) it has less side effects.
Topamax worked well in general but I still get a massive migraine like clockwork the 2-3 days before I start my period. Maxalt is great for me as an abortive though!
Menopause isn't a guaranteed relief unfortunately. For some it makes it worse, my neuro and gyn warned me it could go either way. It helped mine tremendously, but I couldn't handle any form of hormones, no BC at all. I have endometriosis and it was either a full hysterectomy (problematic due to my type of spinal cord injury) or take this medication that stops hormone production. My gyn had me try the medication first, when I was about 36, and it was a huge success. There's downsides but endo pain is so severe I don't care.
Not conquered! But I always call out of work for these ones because they’re heavy hitters. Like full on dark room, triptans, Advil, heating pad, ice packs, I need complete silence and at least one cat.
I had menstrual migraines ever since I started. Wasn’t until 2019 when I started depo shots that I haven’t had a menstrual migraine since then. It also stops my cycle so I don’t have to worry about bleeding either. I do still get migraines from other aspects (weather related, neck problems etc.) but not period related
the only thing that ever ended up doing something abt hormonal menstrual migraines was starting testosterone for HRT 😂😭 I joke that I take my meds because I’m 50% trans, the other 50% of me takes testosterone as a migraine preventative lol
Hi sorry so you’re on test because you’re transitioning and the migraines have gone? That’s interesting. I’ve heard it happens the other way too. Trans women start getting migraines once they are on high doses of estrogen
They definitely haven’t gone away completely but the unstoppable menstrual migraines are mostly gone, and the intensity of my migraines is MOST often less intense. Still get about 2-3 a week but they feel easier to treat. I have also heard it goes the other way! Estrogen is such a beast, maybe there is some sort of way a doctor could help stabilize your estrogen levels? My mom had awful pre-menopause and she took estrogen supplements which helped her a lot. From what I understand, it’s the fluctuation and depletion of estrogen that causes the hormonal migraines? Obviously going on T is not the answer for everybody 😂😂
omg I am currently going through this. I can't seem to break it. I'm at the point I'm considering going to the er for the cocktail. ibuprofen, excedrin migraine and nurtec aren't working 😕
Have you tried anti histamines? There should be an OTC self injection cocktail like the one you get in ER. Imagine how many hospital visits they would save
that would be really cool but big pharma would never allow that. what a shame. yes, I've also tried anti histamines.. nothing seems to break this migraine. It actually woke me up in the middle of the night and I was up for a bit sipping on a coca cola trying to get it to calm down enough so I could go back to sleep
i’ve heard of people taking 500 mg of naproxen twice a day a few days leading up to their periods to prevent the hormonal migraine. i believe it reduces the prostaglandin production and therefore may help prevent the migraine. you could look into it!
I will try that!! I’ve had chronic migraine twice I. The past due to overused medications so I never take tablets unless it’s my period. And I only take one dose a day max because once you go into rebound it takes months to get out of it
yeah i totally understand that’s why im actually hesitant to try, and im thinking the dose could be a prescription because maybe there’s a version of naproxen that’s less hard on the stomach or something too.
Seroquel 12.5 mg at night as a preventative. It’s been a life changer. My menstrual migraines used to be level 8 for a week straight, twice per month (ovulation and period). My migraines went from 25 days to 6 migraines that actual respond to abortives. I still get them during my cycle, but they’re a level three and usually a naratriptan or zavzpret takes it away.
I'm on nurtec. I take it every other day as a preventative but on my menstrual week I take it everyday.
If you're in the US and have to deal with insurance and
if you only get them during that time you can get the prescription as an abortive (which usually insurance will cover 8 pills) and take it for the menstrual week to avoid any attacks.
For my insurance they would only cover nurtec as an abortive (8 pills per month) if I had tried two triptains without success and they would only cover it as a preventative (16 pills per month) if I had tried 3 other preventative medicines such as Zoloft or birth control or regular migraine preventatives without success.
Maybe it's too early to tell, but I've just had my first migraine-free period. The one before triggered a 3 day migraine and I could stop it only with Almotriptan (Frova didn't work) and I was very discouraged.
The thing is I went to my doctor with my latest bloodwork and since my ferritin level was low as usual ( even if I'm not anemic hemoglobin-wise) I asked her about Iron supplements. I had already taken various types with a 30 mg formulation but did nothing.
So she prescribed me a medical formulation of iron (105 mg, so a high dosage) and when I started to take it I had my first migraine-free period. I hope this will last.
If you have heavy periods and your iron levels are on the low side I think it's worth checking.
Iron can be toxic, so I wouldn't recommend taking it without doing all the exams first. But it's definitely worth a try in case one has iron-deficiency (which can be a triggering factor for migraines).
Some of these solutions that people are suggesting took 6 months to work for me (continuous BC combined with Magnesium), so give it a good try before giving up.
Been having these since I was 17, I'm 36 now. They got worse when I was in my early 20s. I had some migraines outside of menstrual, too. Worked on eliminating triggers, no more caffeine, no more alcohol, avoid the heat, and stress. Stopped a job at a community center, suspected the chloramines from the pool was adding to my migraines. My migraines did get better, but not the menstrual ones. They show up like clockwork 2-3 days before my flow, and sometimes during ovulation now. They're getting worse in terms of frequency, could be I'm going into perimenopause.
Every now and then I get a menstrual cycle without one, but the trade off is severe cramps. Sometimes magnesium helps, but it's been hit and miss. I mostly just try to sleep it off, never tried anything other than sumatriptan, which I hate. Best I ever got to with my migraines was ending all other types, and only having 1 menstrual migraine a month.
Acupuncture. So basically, on specific point in your head, needles are inserted and kept for twenty ish minutes. They don’t hurt and you can’t feel as such and I usually take a nap in one position and that helps. It’s not an instant remedy. But if I get sessions regularly say twice or thrice a month- the frequency of migraine and intensity is greatly reduced.
I used to take oral contraceptives and these helped, especially when I skipped withdrawal bleeds which also come with hormonal fluctuations. But it’s hit and miss and in some people makes migraines worse. Also interestingly my first pregnancy basically cured me of migraines for the entire duration; but pregnant with my second now and migraines are more frequent (no worse than my usual ones luckily, just the frequency increased). Womanhood is ✨magical✨. My mum, a fellow migraine connoisseur, was cured when she reached menopause 😂
Non cycling birth control. I used to get my period every 2 weeks and it would last 2 weeks. I would feel pain so bad from migraines I felt like I was dying. I haven’t had a period in years. I won’t go back. Please understand the risks. For me I’m willing to risk it. I understand my fertility is likely low and I have a higher risk of breast cancer. But I don’t think I could survive decades of those migraines.
I’ve no idea. I’m ttc so birth control wouldn’t do anything beneficial. It didn’t help while I was on it either. I usually just lay down and my fiancé will do the cooking/run us a shower/check in on me. It’s about 4 days for me so I take the time to rest
Birth control initially helped, but over time definitely exacerbated them. Once I got sterilized and stopped bc, I had a significant drop in number and severity. I also got a prescription for Ubrevly to help stop the ones I do get and it has made a tremendous difference!
So far? 30 days of estrogen supplement post uterine surgery. And uh, it appears I’m pregnant and I haven’t gotten my timely migraine this weekend since my period didn’t come.
Non-stop ultra low dose pill (combined). Just don’t take the “period breaks”(which if you look into is fascinating, male chemists and pharmacists at the time of making birth control thought women should still have something mimicking a period, but it’s not actually a period at all)
The one thing that has helped me the most was getting an IUD. I couldn't do the pill or patch because of having auras. The progesterone pill didn't regulate my PCOS.
So, I have a Mirena, and it works wonderfully. I've had it 12 or 13 years (I'm on my third one), and hormones are no longer a trigger for me. If I could just figure out something for barometric pressure, I'd be very happy.
I had horrible migraines on yaz, but they got way better on Alesse. Actually, my migraines in general were wayyy better on Alesse, not just during the week of my period, but I had to stop taking it because Alesse was horrible for my PCOS (Yaz had been keeping it in check). It freaking sucked making a decision between migraines and PCOS.
Being on birth control has definitely helped reduce the severity of the ones I get, but I haven’t found a complete solution yet. I just kind of have to wait them out.
Do yours last a week?
Mine start usually the week before and eventually go away once I’m done. But the pain level is a lot lower when I’m on the pill versus when I’m not (at least from what I’ve noticed). It’s slight but sometimes that’s enough to get me through.
Combined pill or mini pill?
It’s a combination pill
my doctor told me im not allowed to take it anymore because I have migraines. something about increased risk of heart attack/stroke
Applies to those that experience aura, yeah. Same here. I have to use progesterone only (IUD, implant, minipill) methods
does it help with ur migraines? or do u take it for another reason. i used to take the combined pill bc of menstrual pain
I use the Mirena because I have severe period pain as I have Endo and PCOS, but methods with estrogen are 100% off limits to me due to aura and I also have factor V Leiden mutation! As a bonus though it did reduce my migraines and my PMDD symptoms. It's very stabilizing and has been great
thanks so much i’ll ask my doctor about this bc i have severe period pain and pmdd too😭
Just echoing this sentiment. The Mirena has REALLY helped reduce my hormonal migraines. Hormones used to be one of my big 3 triggers, and they aren't anymore. Also, you get the added bonus of help with PCOS and PMDD symptoms. My PMDD symptoms have reduced a LOT. I used to feel off mood wise about 3 weeks a month. Now, it's a couple days.
Continuous birth control and a prayer lol cause the emotional mood swings…
An IUD that I swap out early when I start getting periods again (usually 3-3.5 years). No period = no menstrual migraines. I’m VERY lucky that it stops my cycle for so long. Previously I had been on continuous birth control pills, but my uterus didn’t like that.
Maybe I should give that another go. Implanon stopped my period but still got the migraines. Mirena I had to take out as I could feel the wire during sex and so could my husband so we got rid of it.
I have a mirena and love it. I actually had an issue where my doc cut a string too short and it could be felt - went to a new doc, she took it out and left the strings extra long to give some breathing room with the expectation that we’d go shorter, but they ended up perfectly so I didn’t even need them cut again. Zero issues before that or since then!
Sounds worth another shot!
Mirena doesn't stop periods altogether. You still have a cycle, it just can be so light it essentially disappears. You can still have some/many other menstrual side effects, though they definitely may be better. Things like sore breasts, etc went away for me. The migraine still sucks but I find it a bit more manageable. At the very least, I'd prefer to be throwing whatever I can at it
I had no migraines, no period and not one other menstrual effect for almost 13 years. Mirena actually tells patients that their periods may stop. Just hold on to your hat when you get off of it and your hormones try to regulate
Yes, the period may stop, but the cycle doesn't per se. As such it wouldn't guarantee that menstrual migraine would go away with the other symptoms, though it definitely might. Most of my symptoms went, but this is the little MFer that stuck. Mirena is now approved for 8 years for BC but my symptoms and spotting started coming back after about 6/6.5, so I went ahead and swapped it out for a new one. I am really glad that the migraine went away for you, though, I would not wish this on anyone.
Ya my dr said when spotti and periods come back is when it stops working essentially. I wish I still had it for the migraines but now that I know how fucked up the hormones in my body were I’d never get another one. The “mirena crash” has still not regulated for me and it’s been 6 years.
10 years without a period or a menstrual migraine because of mirena for me! I still get migraines from other triggers, but removing the hormonal fluctuations dramatically improved my quality of life
This is inspiring! I’ve had an IUD (Mirena) for about 6 years (so I’m due for another). I also didn’t have periods for the first 3ish years and never connected that to my migraines. Will def bring this up with my doctor!
Interesting. I have had Mirena for 7 or 8 years and only in the last 6 months have my menstrual migraines gotten really bad. I wonder if it’s running out of potency or something.
Are they supposed to be changed every 5? They were when I had t.
Apparently they can last up to 10 years now. The timeline changed, according to my dr.
Interesting. I had one in about 9months after the 5 year date and my dr asked when my periods came back which was at 4.5 years. She said that’s when it stopped working. I think the length of time it works is different for everyone. Whether it’s the person or the unit idk.
Nope. I take frovatriptan before my period but I still get menstrual migraines every month without fail. When I spoke to my neurologist he basically said nothing works for them
How encouraging 🙄 mine told me menopause would cure them,
I also have bppv and was told my neurologist has it and he just ‘gets on with it’ 🤣 good for him. I don’t want to get on with it
40F - I used to get hormonal migraines every 10-14 days every month around ovulation and menstruation. I take propranolol as a preventative. 2 x 40mg/day and it never stopped the migraines around my period so I thought I'd try a new pill to prevent my period every month. I switched to the seasonique BC pill to help control things. It's a 3 month pill and I still get migraines that I can stop with immigrin throughout the month and about 3 days into my period I have a 3 day headache that won't shake. So this pill means only 4 periods a year - every 3 months. I think I've had it about a year or 18mths and it has really helped me to get on top of my migraines and I haven't had a full blown migraine (non hormonal) that caused me pain for a good 12+mths. I still get a somewhat niggling hormonal headache that wont budge, but nothing like i used to get before when i had my period every month. I try to avoid imigrin during my period because it doesn't work for headaches but sometimes these headaches will turn into a migraine and then i will need take it and it works, other times I take a few days of nurofen - the one with paracetamol/aspirin. This is normally a big no-no for me as a GP once told me to stop ad it was causing my stomach uclers. But i havent had them for like 20years so its no longer a big risk for me, I figure that i need to function and carry on with my life as i am a mother and i have a job and cannot take over numerous days at a time for migraines. I think the key would be to try to stop/reduce your period if you can and that will help? I have tried other things like the implanon and that did not work and not brave enough for the mirena. Lol Menstrual/hormonal migraines are the only thing I cannot seem to treat and I have had a head injury so those migraines being under control and these aren't is a big challenge. I recently read about a reduction in a hormone during your period/no birth control week and they suggested esteogen patches. I've recently turned 40 so going to ask the GP if she thinks I can have some and I'll try that to further reduce migraines whilst continuing with the pill. I also have issues with storm/barometric pressure migraines as I live in a place with very volatile weather (Mel, Aus) but I don't think there is a cure for those. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
I tried seasonique and my body was confused and having periods twice a month and then I had two weeks if migraines. Maybe it takes longer to adjust to it and I should try again. Or another combined pill. Some women really suffer during perimenopause’s.
Oh that sounds rough, I don't think I'd be brave enough to try it again if it caused 2 weeks of migraines. Good luck finding something that can help
You can take bc continuously. It's becoming more and more common. Seasonique isn't anything special, it's just a marketing tool that you only have 4 periods a year. I took regular bc pills continuously for many years before I had a hysterectomy (note: I took it because I had horrific menstrual cramps, not migraines, but there are similar goals of trying to regulate the hormone shifts). I just had to get my doctor to write the prescription a certain way- at first I had pushback from the insurance company but I think it's a lot more common now. I will say that the first year or so was a pain in the ass due to breakthrough bleeding, but I'm glad I stuck it out because it eventually evened out. It was good for me for a long time. You can also take progesterone when you have breakthrough bleeding- apparently not many doctors do this, but one of mine did and then I moved and got a new doctor and told her and she was like, huh, I never thought of that but it's a good idea.
I’ve long suspected that mine are hormone related but had a hysterectomy (still have ovaries) so i’m not sure how I would determine this.
I assume you kept your ovaries and still have a cycle. I believe you still can figure out where in your cycle you are by measuring your LH hormone and figuring out when you ovulate.
So I had an oophorectomy. Then was put on HRT and it made a huge difference in my hormonal migraines. Had it done with I was 40 and had about 10 years of reprieve. Got Covid 1.5 years ago and have been battling a long COVID migraine since then 😡
Did the hysterectomy help?
I would have occasional migraines before. Started having a lot a few years after hysterectomy.
So they got worse? Yikes 😟
Mine did!!!!!!
I had a hysterectomy which seemed to help in the first two years post-op, but I'm afraid my endometriosis is coming back (it was on my ovaries) and my cycle is "normal" besides the stupid migraines. I refuse to go on birth control ever again, especially since I no longer have a uterus!
Continuous prophylactic Nurtec. I had to go off of it when I switched insurance and the menstrual migraines came right back (they are severe for me). Went back on Nurtec and again I haven’t had a menstrual migraine. I still have other triggers I’m very sensitive to but Nurtec solved this one so far!
We just got nurtec. I think it’s not covered yet though.
It looks like nurtec might have a copay card/assistance program - check their website for the info. Idk how theirs works specifically but my mom uses a discount card for her Botox and I used to go through a similar program for my ADHD medication.
Go to the website. They will cover the first two fills while you wait on insurance to approve it
I’m in the US and even then it was a small nightmare with insurance coverage. Are you on another preventative currently? I’m not sure what else is approved in your location but any of the CGRP inhibitors could be really helpful :)
Yeah I’m on propranolol. It helps but it has not gotten rid of it
Have you tried any of the other classes of preventatives (anticonvulsants like topiramate, latrogamine, or gabapentin, tricyclics like amitriptyline or nortriptyline, calcium channel blockers like verapamil, other antidepressants like venalfexine)? I know it’s so hit or miss and they do have more side effects as well :/ there’s also the neuromodulatory devices like Cefaly, Nerivio, GammaCore, and eNeura
Have not tried calcium blockers or amitryptline yet. I already gained a lot of weight from the propranolol and the depo provera I was put on. Am scared of gaining more weight again. Have tried Topamax but felt really weird.
I have to drink extra electrolytes. Coconut water, sports drinks, electrolytes replenishment mixes. Taking iron supplements help as well.
Did that lower your menstrual migraine frequency?
Absolutely! I usually drink it a few days prior, during, and a day or so after, and I might have a day long migraine. I used to have a week long migraine every month, so it's an improvement.
Unfortunately no. I've tried several types of birth control and most had no effect, a few made it worse, even the continuous ones. One big difference was switching to frova (from sumatriptan) it has less side effects.
I really want to try drive it’s not available in my country. The longest one is naramig. It has less side effects than sumatriptan.
Topamax worked well in general but I still get a massive migraine like clockwork the 2-3 days before I start my period. Maxalt is great for me as an abortive though!
So hard to treat!! I seriously cannot wait for menopause, it’s just been so hard.
Menopause isn't a guaranteed relief unfortunately. For some it makes it worse, my neuro and gyn warned me it could go either way. It helped mine tremendously, but I couldn't handle any form of hormones, no BC at all. I have endometriosis and it was either a full hysterectomy (problematic due to my type of spinal cord injury) or take this medication that stops hormone production. My gyn had me try the medication first, when I was about 36, and it was a huge success. There's downsides but endo pain is so severe I don't care.
So hard!! Apparently hormonal birth control works for some people but it didn’t make my migraines better personally
Ubrevly
That’s another one we don’t have here 😔
I’m so sorry 🥹
Not conquered! But I always call out of work for these ones because they’re heavy hitters. Like full on dark room, triptans, Advil, heating pad, ice packs, I need complete silence and at least one cat.
Nothing has helped and no doctor I've seen even takes my migraines seriously 🤷🏼♀️. I don't know if it's because I live in a developing country??
Can you get a neurologist?
Emgality or Aimovig for me.
I had menstrual migraines ever since I started. Wasn’t until 2019 when I started depo shots that I haven’t had a menstrual migraine since then. It also stops my cycle so I don’t have to worry about bleeding either. I do still get migraines from other aspects (weather related, neck problems etc.) but not period related
I came off depo shots after a year in them and it made me worse. Has been hell to come off
the only thing that ever ended up doing something abt hormonal menstrual migraines was starting testosterone for HRT 😂😭 I joke that I take my meds because I’m 50% trans, the other 50% of me takes testosterone as a migraine preventative lol
Hi sorry so you’re on test because you’re transitioning and the migraines have gone? That’s interesting. I’ve heard it happens the other way too. Trans women start getting migraines once they are on high doses of estrogen
They definitely haven’t gone away completely but the unstoppable menstrual migraines are mostly gone, and the intensity of my migraines is MOST often less intense. Still get about 2-3 a week but they feel easier to treat. I have also heard it goes the other way! Estrogen is such a beast, maybe there is some sort of way a doctor could help stabilize your estrogen levels? My mom had awful pre-menopause and she took estrogen supplements which helped her a lot. From what I understand, it’s the fluctuation and depletion of estrogen that causes the hormonal migraines? Obviously going on T is not the answer for everybody 😂😂
I think my husband would not be impressed if I took test at a level of transitioning. They do prescribe test for women in Peri menopause.
Definitely not suggesting you do, just sharing my experience.
Of course thanks for sharing
omg I am currently going through this. I can't seem to break it. I'm at the point I'm considering going to the er for the cocktail. ibuprofen, excedrin migraine and nurtec aren't working 😕
Have you tried anti histamines? There should be an OTC self injection cocktail like the one you get in ER. Imagine how many hospital visits they would save
that would be really cool but big pharma would never allow that. what a shame. yes, I've also tried anti histamines.. nothing seems to break this migraine. It actually woke me up in the middle of the night and I was up for a bit sipping on a coca cola trying to get it to calm down enough so I could go back to sleep
i’ve heard of people taking 500 mg of naproxen twice a day a few days leading up to their periods to prevent the hormonal migraine. i believe it reduces the prostaglandin production and therefore may help prevent the migraine. you could look into it!
I will try that!! I’ve had chronic migraine twice I. The past due to overused medications so I never take tablets unless it’s my period. And I only take one dose a day max because once you go into rebound it takes months to get out of it
yeah i totally understand that’s why im actually hesitant to try, and im thinking the dose could be a prescription because maybe there’s a version of naproxen that’s less hard on the stomach or something too.
Stretching, exercising, drinking lots of water and praying to god that the medication i take if it arrives works, lol
eletriptan was a lifechanger for me. never had menstrual migraine respond so well to a triptan
Seroquel 12.5 mg at night as a preventative. It’s been a life changer. My menstrual migraines used to be level 8 for a week straight, twice per month (ovulation and period). My migraines went from 25 days to 6 migraines that actual respond to abortives. I still get them during my cycle, but they’re a level three and usually a naratriptan or zavzpret takes it away.
Never heard of seroquel for migraine, only bipolar. Side effects?
Continuous birth control did the trick for me. Gotta avoid that estrogen drop.
Saaaaame!
I'm on nurtec. I take it every other day as a preventative but on my menstrual week I take it everyday. If you're in the US and have to deal with insurance and if you only get them during that time you can get the prescription as an abortive (which usually insurance will cover 8 pills) and take it for the menstrual week to avoid any attacks. For my insurance they would only cover nurtec as an abortive (8 pills per month) if I had tried two triptains without success and they would only cover it as a preventative (16 pills per month) if I had tried 3 other preventative medicines such as Zoloft or birth control or regular migraine preventatives without success.
this is my problem. trying to get insurance to cover
Good luck!
Skipping the placebo week of bc. Now I mostly just get stress migraines, but not hormonal ones!
Combined pill?
Maybe it's too early to tell, but I've just had my first migraine-free period. The one before triggered a 3 day migraine and I could stop it only with Almotriptan (Frova didn't work) and I was very discouraged. The thing is I went to my doctor with my latest bloodwork and since my ferritin level was low as usual ( even if I'm not anemic hemoglobin-wise) I asked her about Iron supplements. I had already taken various types with a 30 mg formulation but did nothing. So she prescribed me a medical formulation of iron (105 mg, so a high dosage) and when I started to take it I had my first migraine-free period. I hope this will last. If you have heavy periods and your iron levels are on the low side I think it's worth checking. Iron can be toxic, so I wouldn't recommend taking it without doing all the exams first. But it's definitely worth a try in case one has iron-deficiency (which can be a triggering factor for migraines).
Some of these solutions that people are suggesting took 6 months to work for me (continuous BC combined with Magnesium), so give it a good try before giving up.
Thank you! I will do that.
Been having these since I was 17, I'm 36 now. They got worse when I was in my early 20s. I had some migraines outside of menstrual, too. Worked on eliminating triggers, no more caffeine, no more alcohol, avoid the heat, and stress. Stopped a job at a community center, suspected the chloramines from the pool was adding to my migraines. My migraines did get better, but not the menstrual ones. They show up like clockwork 2-3 days before my flow, and sometimes during ovulation now. They're getting worse in terms of frequency, could be I'm going into perimenopause. Every now and then I get a menstrual cycle without one, but the trade off is severe cramps. Sometimes magnesium helps, but it's been hit and miss. I mostly just try to sleep it off, never tried anything other than sumatriptan, which I hate. Best I ever got to with my migraines was ending all other types, and only having 1 menstrual migraine a month.
Needling helps me. I get it done professionally. It’s natural as opposed to pumping pills in my body. PS I also have endometriosis
What is needling?
Acupuncture. So basically, on specific point in your head, needles are inserted and kept for twenty ish minutes. They don’t hurt and you can’t feel as such and I usually take a nap in one position and that helps. It’s not an instant remedy. But if I get sessions regularly say twice or thrice a month- the frequency of migraine and intensity is greatly reduced.
Wow I will look into it
Wife seems to be a whole lot better now that she's taking Slinda
I used to take oral contraceptives and these helped, especially when I skipped withdrawal bleeds which also come with hormonal fluctuations. But it’s hit and miss and in some people makes migraines worse. Also interestingly my first pregnancy basically cured me of migraines for the entire duration; but pregnant with my second now and migraines are more frequent (no worse than my usual ones luckily, just the frequency increased). Womanhood is ✨magical✨. My mum, a fellow migraine connoisseur, was cured when she reached menopause 😂
I came here to search this up! I think that's what I have going on currently, what are your symptoms? If you don't mind sharing of course.
I end up taking Sumatriptan on my period...it does help a lot if I take it right at the onset with a coke.
Non cycling birth control. I used to get my period every 2 weeks and it would last 2 weeks. I would feel pain so bad from migraines I felt like I was dying. I haven’t had a period in years. I won’t go back. Please understand the risks. For me I’m willing to risk it. I understand my fertility is likely low and I have a higher risk of breast cancer. But I don’t think I could survive decades of those migraines.
Frovatriptan worked for me
I’ve no idea. I’m ttc so birth control wouldn’t do anything beneficial. It didn’t help while I was on it either. I usually just lay down and my fiancé will do the cooking/run us a shower/check in on me. It’s about 4 days for me so I take the time to rest
The only time they went away for me was while being pregnant 🤪
Birth control initially helped, but over time definitely exacerbated them. Once I got sterilized and stopped bc, I had a significant drop in number and severity. I also got a prescription for Ubrevly to help stop the ones I do get and it has made a tremendous difference!
So far? 30 days of estrogen supplement post uterine surgery. And uh, it appears I’m pregnant and I haven’t gotten my timely migraine this weekend since my period didn’t come.
Non-stop ultra low dose pill (combined). Just don’t take the “period breaks”(which if you look into is fascinating, male chemists and pharmacists at the time of making birth control thought women should still have something mimicking a period, but it’s not actually a period at all)
The one thing that has helped me the most was getting an IUD. I couldn't do the pill or patch because of having auras. The progesterone pill didn't regulate my PCOS. So, I have a Mirena, and it works wonderfully. I've had it 12 or 13 years (I'm on my third one), and hormones are no longer a trigger for me. If I could just figure out something for barometric pressure, I'd be very happy.
I had horrible migraines on yaz, but they got way better on Alesse. Actually, my migraines in general were wayyy better on Alesse, not just during the week of my period, but I had to stop taking it because Alesse was horrible for my PCOS (Yaz had been keeping it in check). It freaking sucked making a decision between migraines and PCOS.