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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): How Well Does It Fight Migraine?

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Coenzyme Q10, commonly known as CoQ10, has become increasingly popular in recent years as a supplement to fight migraine, heart conditions, and a few other medical issues. A study last month investigated just how and how well CoQ10 works for migraine.

Swanson CoQ10
Promo for Swanson CoQ10 (see below)
There has been significant evidence in the past that CoQ10 does help some migraine patients. However, it’s always been the “little brother” of treatments – not the one thing you take, but one of many tools you use.

The meta study looked at five studies with a total of 346 patients.

The not-so-encouraging news was that CoQ10 didn’t perform well in actually reducing the severity of migraine attacks, or even the number of attacks. It didn’t make things worse, but it didn’t rise above what a placebo would have done.

You might ask, what good news could possibly be left? Well, there is actually surprisingly good news.

CoQ10 did reduce the length of attacks, and so it actually reduced the number of days with migraine symptoms per month.

In addition, CoQ10 is a substance that’s naturally in the body, and there are usually no side effects whatsoever. That’s why it has been, and continues to be, a viable option to fight migraine.

Quick Tips for Taking CoQ10

  1. Do not expect CoQ10 to work immediately. You need to take it regularly for three to four months before you’ll see improvement. Track your improvement to see how much it helps. Also check to see if symptoms like nausea are lessened.
  2. Why does CoQ10 work for some and not others? It may have to do with CoQ10 “deficiency”. If you have a lab test, be sure to check the numbers – your levels should be at least 0.7 (see Are You CoQ10 Deficient?).
  3. Talk to your doctor about doses, but a typical dose for migraine is 300mg/day for adults. Note that this is a higher dose than what is typically taken for other conditions.
  4. CoQ10 has also been used in children and youth. It may also help with cyclical vomiting syndrome.
  5. If you have a heart condition, diabetes, or thyroid issues, talk to your doctor about this supplement.
  6. Use a trusted brand. Consumer Labs recommends Swanson brand CoQ10 on the inexpensive end, and overall best Doctor’s Best High Absorption CoQ10.
  7. Bonus information: Some researchers believe that CoQ10 may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
  8. For best results, take the supplement with a meal containing fat. If you’re only taking one dose a day, taking it later in the day (supper, evening) may also improve its absorption.

For more information:

Are You CoQ10 Deficient?

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Although CoQ10 has been a well known migraine treatment for many years, for whatever reason we haven’t spent a lot of time talking about it here. But a recent article at the New York Headache blog helps us with a summary of information about this treatment.

21st Century CoQ10
Another brand recommended by Consumer Labs.
CoQ10, or coenzyme Q10, is an antioxidant found in every cell of your body, and also in some foods. It is sometimes listed as a supplement as Q10, vitamin Q10, ubiquinone, or ubidecarenone.

CoQ10 is often taken to fight symptoms of heart conditions. Many people also take it to fight migraine.

The recent article at the NY Headache blog points out that studies have shown CoQ10 benefits for migraine patients, whether children, adolescents, or adults. (Read the article here: Migraines can be prevented with CoQ10 supplementation) The doses given in the trials were 1-3mg for children and adolescents, and 100mg 3x daily for adults.

Dr. Mauskop (author of the post) makes the logical assumption that you’re more likely to benefit from CoQ10 treatment if your levels are actually low. There is a lab test for this, which is often covered by insurance plans. But the post gives the following advice:

It is important to ask your doctor what the actual blood level was because the laboratories will report as normal values between 0.37 and 2.2 (Labcorp) or 0.44 and 1.64 (Quest Diagnostics), studies have shown that the level should be at least 0.7.

Consumer Labs recommends Swanson Ultra as a good budget brand of this supplement (follow the link to “other sellers” and you’ll see that Swanson sells this and it’s shipped by Amazon). The high-absorption recommendation is only slightly more – Doctor’s Best High Absorption CoQ10.

(Note: the “high absorption” version may allow you to get better results with a lower dosage. However, it contains black pepper extract, which may cause issues with some medications, such as propranolol. Talk to your doctor, especially if you’re taking a prescription medication.)

CoQ10 has been helpful for the prevention of migraine for many years. Hopefully with better testing we can match it to the patients who will benefit the most. It’s an inexpensive option that could make a big difference.

Magnesium for Migraine 2 – Combos?

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Yesterday we talked about some of the things we’ve learned about magnesium supplements for migraine over the past few years.  Today I just want to briefly talk about one more topic – supplements that contain magnesium and something else.

Again, this is something you’ll need to talk to your doctor about.  But here are a few things that our visitors have said they are taking with magnesium.  The ones mentioned most often come first:

  1. CoQ10
  2. vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  3. feverfew
  4. omega 3
  5. butterbur

Now that doesn’t include things like normal abortives and other medications.  Remember, magnesium will not always eliminate migraine, so usually you’ll use it to cut down on attacks/symptoms, and then compliment it with other treatments.

Now, sometimes these are taken as separate supplements.  But there are specially designed combinations of supplements that many have found useful for migraine.

Possibly the most popular is MigreLief, which is a combination of magnesium, riboflavin and feverfew.  I would say it’s the magnesium supplement most often mentioned by our visitors, and it has a lot of research behind it.

Another is actually not a preventative, but an abortive.  It’s called Migralex, and it contains magnesium and aspirin.  People have reported that taking magnesium supplements during an attack helps – and in fact, magnesium has long been given intravenously for migraine.

Now you can check some of the links above for more on these additional supplements, but here’s some of the things our visitors have said.  Note that I’m not always quoting their entire comment, just the relevant part.

Angela:  I was researching on your website, and came across the articles about magnesium, feverfew, and riboflavin.  I said to myself, why not try it??  Well, after only a week of taking the supplements, I was able to quit the daily headache powders, and now, after couple months, the headaches are non-existent most days, and just a dull ache that I can manage on one or two days a week!!

Laurie:  I have found after suffering from migraines since a child that taking the magnesium and 200 mg of co-enzyme Q 10 in the morning with breakfast is the golden ticket.  Would recommend taking a multi-vitamin and calcium with the evening meal.

okiegem:  Then, about two years ago, I read something somewhere about magnesium and coenzymeQ10, and tried them.  After a few weeks, I realized my migraines were GONE!  I take 400mg CoQ10 and 500mg magnesium oxide, which I get at the local Wal-Mart, and I really am migraine-free!  It has truly been life-altering.

Angie:  A friend from work told me that her Dr had told her about a Magnesium/Riboflavin (B2) combo that seemed to be helping her, I felt like I had nothing to lose by giving it a try.  IT WORKED!  The Mag Oxide was not overly helpful, but the Mag Citrate made all the difference in the world.

Liz:  I tried everything under the sun as well as multiple doctors and was at the end of my rope.  I too decided to take things into my own hands and weaned myself off topamax and zonisimide, then later depakote.  I now am ONLY taking supplements.  Magnesium, feverfew and CoQ10.

Dawn:  Magnesium, feverfew, butterbur, Vit. B and CoQ10 are what I’m using to control the migraines – doing much better and NO side effects!!

Does magnesium work for everyone?  Of course not.  Obviously I’m quoting from people who have found some success.  That way you can see what actually works in real life.

A note on Cluster Headaches

Before closing, one note about cluster headaches.  People with cluster have also responded to magnesium supplements, and intravenous magnesium.  Here’s an article about magnesium and Botox.  And here is what one website visitor had to say:

Terri:  I was very suspicious, after leaving the hospital, as to what affects the antibiotic was going to have on my body.  After leaning on YOUR SITE that, indeed, an antibiotic can deplete your system of magnesium (3 days ago), I started taking Magnesium 500 and B2 200 and noticed an immediate improvement.  We had some bad (rain) weather yesterday which increases my clusters so I can’t tell yet how much improvement I will ultimately have, but I’m thinking this may be the answer for me.

Thanks again for your emails and comments – they are a huge help to others!  Keep up the great commenting!

Speaking of commenting, if you have had success with a combo supplement with magnesium, now is your chance to leave a comment!

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, Migraine, and CoQ10

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Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) in children has been closely related to migraine.  In fact, the symptoms are common in migraine, and recent studies suggest that CVS may actually be a type of migraine.  Abdominal migraine is common in children, and stomach pain and vomiting are common (more on abdominal migraine symptoms).

Various treatments have been used for abdominal migraine and CVS – many familiar to migraineurs in general, such as biofeedback, beta-blockers, and triptans.  Another common treatment is amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant with brand names such as Endep and Elavil.

Coenzyme Q10 is increasingly popular as a migraine preventative, in part because of its few side effects.  So, a study published in January (2010) set out to compare amitriptyline with co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a treatment for CVS.  162 patients took amitriptyline, and 22 took CoQ10.

Patients were watched for common aspects of a CVS attack – frequency, duration, number of times child throws up, nausea severity.  72% of the patients taking amitriptyline saw at least a 50% reduction in one of these things.  68% of patients taking coenzyme Q10 experienced at least a 50% reduction in one of these things.

So, amitriptyline is "better", right?  Not so fast.

50% of patients reported side effects with the amitriptyline, and in fact 21% had to discontinue treatment!

Side effects with the coQ10?  0% of patients.  None.

Not only is this an encouraging result for those thinking of trying CoQ10 for CVS, it’s also encouraging for (other) migraine patients who are thinking about it.  CoQ10 continues to be a good option with very few side effects.  It’s an up-and-coming preventative for children as well as adults.

For a more in-depth discussion of coenzyme Q10 and migraine, read this article.

Fight Migraine: Be nice to your Mitochondria

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Links between related diseases, such as migraine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are important for more than one reason.  First, they get us closer to finding the common cause, which could lead to future treatments of both diseases.

But learning about links can be important to you right now.  They can give you new insight into how to prioritize your treatment, and what lifestyle changes you can make that can give you more "healthy days" to enjoy your life.

That’s why I was interested in the report put out by researchers at the Mayo Clinic earlier this month.  The report had the typically long name Mitochondrial DNA, Gastrointestinal Motor and Sensory Functions in Health and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.  Let me break it down quickly for you.

Mitochondrion diagram
Simplified diagram of a mitochondrion

Researchers of various diseases, not just what are technically called mitochondrial diseases, are very interested in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and something called nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).  These are variations in the mtDNA that might be related to diseases such as stroke, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome.

To get to the key point – these researchers believe that certain variations – SNPs – may be associated with gastric emptying, and even pain.  The same variations are related to migraine, and childhood cyclic vomiting syndrome (which in many cases is probably abdominal migraine).

Developing treatments

Treatments are being investigated to treat diseases related to mtDNA.  This includes diet and supplement treatments, exercise training, and more direct DNA therapy, such as artificially manufactured enzymes.  One of the big jobs of the mitochondria is energy production, so a lot of today’s therapy is based around reducing energy "leaks" (ie excessive stress), and keeping a steady source of energy (snacks with complex carbohydrates, eating regularly, supplements, etc).

Can this research benefit me Now?

This research actually supports much of what we’ve talked about before.  For example, we just talked about gastric stasis and the benefit of migraine nasal sprays.  Gastric stasis may be linked to migraine through these SNPs, or variations (which may explain why many migraineurs have gastric stasis all the time).

Much of the common treatment for mitochondrial disease makes sense for migraineurs.  Ever had an attack because you skipped a meal?  Or slept in (and so went longer without eating)?  Here are some key treatments and lifestyle changes which have even more credibility when looking at the link between migraine and the mitochondria:

  • B complex vitamins:  Very common in migraine treatment, and a key ingredient in Migreleif, a well researched supplement.
  • Antioxidents:  such as vitamin E.  Magnesium is also key in the cleansing of the body (also a key ingredient in Migrelief).  (this also means avoiding toxins, like cigarette smoke, alcohol, and MSG).  Magnesium and antioxidant superfoods include beans and spinach.
  • Eating regularly:  Be careful not to skip meals.  Try healthy snacks thoughout the day, including complex carbohydrates which will keep a steady supply of energy in your body.
  • Coenzyme Q10:  A key supplement for migraine which we have discussed before in HeadWay.  CoQ10 is also an antioxidant.  But the key factor may be the way it "jump starts" the energy production in your cells.  I am personally taking CoQ10 now, in the 300mg softgels (3 month supply of softgels).  For migraine, between 150mg and 300mg is recommended, but check with your doctor for the amount right for you (CoQ10 at Vitacost).

You may find that following these suggestions not only cut down your migraine attacks, but also related mitochondrial symptoms such as depression, muscle fatigue and IBS.  Fighting gastric stasis will also make your medication more effective when you need to take it.  There are a suprising number of benefits to treating your mitochondria right!

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