Oranges - Do they give you migraines?

Hi everyone I am just wondering, I know I have seen posts before about lemons or oranges causing migraines. Can anyone who has experienced this describe it?

I have recently changed my Triptan - from Frova to Imitrex. Imitrex is far cheaper than Frova and that's my only reason for switching. I actually like Frova better.

But anyways, ever since I've been on Imitrex it seems like maybe my digestive system isn't working as great. I never noticed anything from eating oranges before, but now if I eat even one orange, it gives my bad intestinal cramps which wake me up in the night and I have to get up out of bed to use the bathroom! It's quite annoying and I don't know if it's some interaction with the Imitrex or what.

But who gets migraines from citrus, and does it also cause digestive problems for you?

I have never noticed digestive problems. But I have found that lemonade will trigger a migraine. The worst one I had in several years was last summer when we stopped at a kids lemonade stand. It was made from fresh lemons, not the powdered stuff and tasted fabulous. I had the worst migraine that night! Nothing would touch it. No more lemonade for me.

My statistical analysis showed that neither orange juice nor limeade caused problems though. Just lemonade. But certainly oranges could be the problem for you.

I have a co-worker that gets migraines from citrus. Nobody even brings oranges/grapefruit near her when she is on shift. She gets them when you peel them and all the zest is released into the air, that is what she told us. I have never ever seen her eat citrus fruits. She is also prone to an attack when any lavender is around.

Yes, definitely. And not just oranges, but orange juice, orange peel as well as lemon and garpefuit etc.
I do not have any stomach problems after eating them though. I have never noticed any stomach problems with Imtrex either, and I have been taking it for nearly 20 years now.

Ok thanks for your input. I think maybe I have been drinking more caffeine lately and that might be what's upsetting my stomach, not the Imitrex. Oranges have a lot of acid so it's probably caffeine + oranges = indigestion.

YES. If I drink a glass of orange juice I get one for up to three days. i can't sit next to my mum when she has her afternoon orange either. Anything with oranges, especially the concentrated stuff in chocolates is a disaster, the small amount in carrot cake, the small amount in commercial fruit smoothies all a disaster. Frequently there will be a little in something that isnt openly declared eg. banana and strawberry smoothie, with in small letters at the back "contains orange juice". I don't have to know it is there before I react. I know it's there from the headache if I eat it. Strangely lemons are oK.

Di

Yes I have trouble with all citrus fruit. LOL. I always feel like such a loser, as it's supposed to be so good for you! The smell of orange doesn't bother me so much, but many perfumes and fragrances can bring on a migraine.

But bananas are even a stronger trigger for me I would say. I once had a banana in my car I was carrying around trying to be healthy, and when it got ripe the smell brought on the WORST migraine ever.

Anyways, I have a migraine diet list, that recommends it can be O.K. to eat half an orange, or to have a very small glass of orange juice. I guess it might not be, but the idea is if triggers are culmulative, you can sometimes get away with a small half portion of a food. Therefore still enjoying the food, but avoiding the migraine. Just a thought.

I'm kind of like that with pizza too. I can't eat fresh risen breads/dough, but I can do O.k. with tomato sauce on other things, or a little bit of cheese, as long as you don't through the fresh pizza dough in to. Weird!

Angel