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Lipoic Acid for Migraine

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Some doctors have recommended lipoic acid as a supplement treatment for migraine. So what exactly is it?

Alpha-lipoic acid (also known as thioctic acid or ALA, or there is also RLA, the naturally-occurring version) is a chemical that is found in some plants, and actually is made by your own body. It’s an antioxidant, and so helps keep your body healthy while it fights inflammation. It also helps your body maintain proper levels of vitamin C and vitamin E. Both of these may play a major role in fighting migraine and headache.

Broccoli and Lipoic AcidNow, we’re all for antioxidants and healthy foods, but why ALA in particular? And why haven’t you heard about it from your doctor?

The evidence for ALA for migraine is still fairly sparse, just because there haven’t been many studies on it. A study in 2007 suffered because not enough patients were recruited for the study. However, the study seemed to show fewer headache days, and less intense headaches, with ALA. This was over 3 months (see A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of thioctic acid in migraine prophylaxis..

ALA is much better known as a treatment for diabetics, to decrease nerve pain. In that case, patients take 600mg or more per day in two doses. It’s also taken for weight loss and mental clarity. (Lots more information here: Alpha Lipoic Acid: Improve Insulin Sensitivity & Fight Diabetes!. Also see Alpha-Lipoic Acid.)

600mg was also the amount used in the migraine study.

Because lipoic acid comes from food, your best bet is probably to eat more ALA-rich foods. Broccoli is one of the best all-round foods for a migraine patient. Also try organ meat (liver, heart), spinach, and tomatoes.

So here are some things to consider:

  1. Get ALA from food. This is almost a no-brainer, since we already know that foods like broccoli have so many benefits. Also try adding peas, brussel sprouts, carrots and beets to your diet.
  2. ALA can be taken as a supplement for general health. You could try 50-100mg per day.
  3. If you would like to try ALA specifically for migraine prevention, talk to your doctor about a 600mg dose.

Which supplement? An excellent version of thioctic acid is Country Life R-Lipoic Acid. It contains no gluten or milk or preservatives and is vegetarian. It’s also one of the less-expensive versions of RLA, and was tested and approved by Consumer Lab.

If you’re taking a higher dosage, an even less expensive version (also tested by Consumer Labs) is Vitacost Alpha Lipoic Acid. This would be a good option if you’re going the 600mg route, because you can take it in two doses.

Finally, if you’re looking for one of the highest rated brands on Amazon, Doctor’s Best has a whole series of lipoic acid products to choose from. The reviews themselves are an interesting read, if you want to hear about how this supplement is actually helping people.

Ocular Migraine Symptoms

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Discussing ocular migraine symptoms can be frustrating because the term itself remains confusing. The International Headache Society has provided guidance in the diagnosis of migraine conditions and symptoms through their “International Classification of Headache Disorders”, which lists various types of headache and migraine disorders. But ocular migraine isn’t one of them.

Ocular Migraine Symptoms?So if your doctor is using the term, I would encourage them to refer to the classification system, which will help us all speak the same language!

Types of “Ocular Migraine”

Today, people who are talking about ocular migraine symptoms are typically referring to some type of migraine with aura (yes, there are many types!). But first let’s take a look at the warning symptoms, because visual symptoms can be a sign of various conditions. If you’re having vision problems, and any of the below describes you, see a doctor immediately.

Warning signs:

  • Visual symptoms last for less than 5 minutes.
  • Visual symptoms last more than an hour.
  • Symptom is primarily partial or complete blindness (as opposed to seeing flashing lights, etc).
  • You have recently had a stroke or brain injury.
  • The symptoms are new – this is especially a concern if you are over 40.

Even if none of the above is true, if these are new symptoms to you, you should see a doctor. Issues such as transient ischemic attack (TIA) (mini-stroke) and even stroke can closely mimic migraine. Your doctor will need to rule out other conditions before giving you a diagnosis.

Now you’re still experiencing ocular migraine symptoms, and you want to narrow down your diagnosis some more. This will help.

What type of migraine?

  • Are you experiencing “motor weakness” along with the visual symptoms? Motor or muscle weakness may be a sign that you’re suffering from a type of hemiplegic migraine.
  • Are you experiencing other strange symptoms, such as jerky movements, trouble speaking, trouble hearing, vertigo, double vision, or even a decreased level of consciousness? Some of these may be typical of migraine with aura, but they could indicate migraine with brainstem aura.
  • Is the aura strictly visual, and it’s happened several times? Do the visual symptoms always last between 5 minutes and 1 hour? And are they always in only one eye? If so, you may have retinal migraine.

If none of these fit you, you may have typical migraine with aura.

Now, you’ll notice I didn’t say a lot about headaches. Yes, it is common to have headaches along with retinal migraine – but it’s not always the case. It is possible to have retinal migraine attacks with no headache. It is also possible to have typical aura without headache, which is more common and can have more varied symptoms than the more specific retinal migraine.

Underneath many of these types of migraine, there are also sub-types.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth getting a specific diagnosis for your ocular migraine symptoms, it is. Some of these types of migraine have treatments that specifically work with that migraine type.

A neurologist with experience in migraine and headache conditions can help you find a diagnosis and a treatment.

The Mayo Clinic has a brief but helpful article on ocular migraine symptoms here.

Again, if these are new symptoms, you should go to a doctor who can help you rule out various other possibilities. Whether migraine or not, these can be serious and debilitating symptoms.

New Reports on Visual Snow

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It was interesting reading about some recent reports about visual snow, a phenomenon where patients see constant “static” or “spots”.

As we’ve discussed before, there is a debate about how visual snow is related to migraine. Persistent migraine aura is how we describe visual symptoms of migraine that don’t go away. Visual snow is usually described as a more specific symptom. Read more about both here: Persistent Migraine Aura and Visual Snow?

Visual SnowTreatments such as valproic acid, acetazolamide, lamotrigine and topiramate are typical for visual snow. But according to a recent paper, less than half of patients responded to the medications that were prescribed for them. Which means there’s a lot of work to do.

Many patients tried recreational drugs for visual snow, which tended to make things worse. In fact, hallucinogenic drugs are a common cause of visual snow.

Check out this post from the New York Headache blog for more interesting facts, such as who visual snow tends to affect, when it’s at its worst, and how it may be connected to headache and migraine: Visual snow is related to migraines, can be disabling

Last Day to Give Your Input for Erenumab Insurance Coverage!

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ICER inputToday (Thursday, the 30th of November 2017) is the last day to give The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) your input. This will help your insurance companies make an informed decision about covering this, and possibly future, CGRP targetting drugs.

To read the full explanation, go to Be Proactive: Insurance and CGRP Migraine Treatment (time is limited!)

After you’ve read that post, share it with any contact you have who also are struggling with migraine or chronic migraine.

Thanks!

Be Proactive: Insurance and CGRP Migraine Treatment (time is limited!)

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The ups and downs of insurance coverage can be frustrating. But from today until Thursday night, you will have the opportunity to influence insurance companies before hand.

The Short Story: Experts are reviewing information on the CGRP targeting migraine drug, erenumab. They want to hear from you, before the end of the 30th of November 2017. They will use this information to advise insurance companies. See below for information on making your voice heard.

Institute for Clinical and Economic ReviewThe longer explanation: Erenumab is one of the many CGRP inhibitor drugs that are in a race to hit the market. These unique medications have shown great promise in the treatment of migraine, chronic migraine, and even cluster headache. You can read more about some of the recent studies here: More Positive Results from the CGRP Migraine Treatments

Erenumab is first in line at the FDA, waiting for approval (a decision is expected in May 2018). The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is assessing the drug to see how cost-effective it is, and their report will be used by insurance companies. The insurance companies will then decide if and how they will cover this medication if your doctor prescribes it.

Your insurance company may consider things like how much they would cover, and what requirements they will have before they cover it (for example, what treatments you need to try first, etc).

So the bottom line is this: ICER wants to hear from you. And that means that your story can influence the insurance companies before they have made their decision. You can help them to make a more informed decision, and that could make all the difference as this and other new CRGP medications hit the market.

What to do

There is a brief form you can fill out, but you’ll probably want to do a little homework first if you can.

  1. Today, at 3:00pm ET, The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum (HMPF) and The Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP) will be holding a conference call to answer your questions. To sign up to be a part of it, go here.
  2. To get more information and to see suggested answers to ICER’s questions, check out this page at HMPF: PATIENT GUIDE FOR ICER REVIEW OF NEW MIGRAINE MEDICINE – DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30TH
  3. Migraine Again has also posted a helpful article: Come Together: Speak Up Now for CGRP Coverage Next Year
  4. All ready? Go and fill out the ICER form here.

Remember, the deadline in the 30th of November 2017. That’s Thursday. So fill it out today or tomorrow if possible! And if a migraine attack strikes, you still have Thursday. 🙂

Also, please share this post with others who deal with migraine so that as many people as possible can be a part of this.

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The articles on Headache and Migraine News are © 2004-2026 J. Cottrill.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of each article, and to point you to further sources of information. However, this site is for informational purposes only and should never replace a visit to your doctor.