Caffeine and migraines

There was mention of caffeine on another post and it made me remember this site.

http://www.caffeineandmigraine.com/

The author has a very intresting and intricate theory about the role that caffeine plays in migraine (without an already established secondary cause). His view is that caffeine has never been excluded as a big cause of migraine in a big trial and that all other research is based on the ASSUMPTION that caffeine is not the cause. He states that caffeine could be causing somewhere between 0-100% of migraines and no-one really knows.

There is a lot of information on the action of caffeine in the body and how it could potentially cause most of the common migraine symptoms through known modes of action. He also discusses the reason for the disparate findings that caffeine can both cause headaches and relieve them.

There's a lot to read but I highly recommend it (especially the section called migraine). I know I have totally given up caffeine - completely - several times for several months and still had migraine, so I don't think the figure will be 100% (seems too improbable anyway). I am currently having 15-40mg per day, usually the lower end, with decaf tea and very sporadic chocolate, so even though I don't think of myself as consuming a lot there is still some going in.

Of course this is all just a theory. But is anyone is trying to eliminate all they can as a cause it might be worth going caffeine free for a while.

This site lists typical amounts of caffeine in various sources (tea, coffee, green or white tea, cola, other carbonated beverages, chocolate and medications can all be sources. Guarana is also very similar to caffeine).

Amy

Thanks Amy. I take Anadin Extra which of course have 45mg Caffeine.
I take anything from one (yes occasionally that will catch it) to likely 2 say 3/4 times a week.
I dont drink coffee and have given me 5 cups of tea a day which my husband has pointed out I probably drink less than a third of.
I dont really like it, so a few mouthfulls.
I have the odd bit of chocolate, but never buy it, I share my daughters craved purchase maybe one in a week.

I am going to try to change to 3 soluble aspirins as suggested and see if I get the same as the Anadin.
I do only seem to respond to aspirin, and I intend to start with the old anadin with just aspirin and caffeine.
Then dump the caffeine.....but I have no idea if it is bad for me. I suspect it is helpful....
I am waiting (presently in vain) for a better break in case none of this works.

I have known a few people with migraines who drunk a lot of strong coffee, but they only had occasional migraines..
Interesting stuff.

p

All I know is that it seems to actually HELP me at times. I don't drink any caffeinated beverages on a daily basis, and have never been able to establish any correlation between it and my headaches. Not saying it's not a trigger, just that I don't think it is for every person suffering migraines.

It helps me too sometimes. There's a bit that describes how this works but I can't find it now. I agree, certainly not the cause of all migraines by a long way, but interesting theory and might help someone.

Amy

Nope cant read it, and cant take it in. Too thick I guess.
Oh well....

I think caffeine is like any other chemical we take in. Some of us are going to have a strong reaction to it, others it won't do anything. Before this bout started, I would get a cappuccino once a week as a treat and if I got a M, get one and it helped. I should mention that I don't drink soda pop or take other meds with caffeine. Once all this started, I went to drinking some coffee every day. To be honest, it helps to knock things down some. It hasn't changed the frequency (can't get much worse than daily) or the severity. It does help me get through the morning when things aren't starting out too bad. If my doctor told me, no more, well I'd comply but my days would be harder to get started and through the mornings.

"He states that caffeine could be causing somewhere between 0-100% of migraines and no-one really knows."

You can definitely prove whether or not caffeine causes 100% of migraines - get a couple of migraneurs to totally abstain from caffeine. If any of them still develop migraines, obviously caffeine cannot be the cause of ALL migraines. I'm pretty sure I've read studies doing just this, so the author of that statement needs to do a little research. As I remember, there was some association with "medicine overuse" type migraines and heavy caffeine use.

In case I'm wrong in remembering that paper, I can offer my case to disprove at least the 100% end. I quit caffeine for six months to see what impact it had on my migraines. The answer for me was "Not much". It didn't really change the frequency or severity of my migraines at all.

I've since gone back on caffeine. With me, too much caffeine CAN be a trigger. But that's all it is. If I'm going through a period where I'm migraine free, it never triggers a migraine. But if I'm in a high migraine period, I have to watch it. On the other hand, if I'm not drinking too much caffeine and I DO get a migraine, a little caffeine definitely helps.

I hadn't drunk coffee for about 10 years, during which time the migraines got worse, so caffeine wasn't the cause there. But just like you, HeelerLady I suddenly found that drinking a cappuccino would abort one. I was ecstatic but of course find it only helps on occasions. But if I can manage a coffee now, I love the energy it gives me if only for an hour.

Liz

I've been totally off caffeine for a year now, and the incidence and severity of my daily migraines hasn't changed. I very rarely eat chocolate (once every few months, if that) because it usually triggers a migraine.

When I was drinking caffeine (diet soda), at least it helped with the fatigue (energized), helped my concentration and memory, and helped the pain meds work faster.

I do not drink coffee. One cup of coffee has always instantly triggered a migraine.

Given my experience, I think caffeine, at limited sustained daily ingestion, helps daily migraine and the accompanying symptoms.

Becky

P.S.--HealerLady....I love your new avatar. I'm assuming she/he is blue heeler?

I think it is safe to say there is a correlation between caffeine and migraines. As a trigger - well that's proven. Many people seem to be triggered by it but I wouldn't say it's a perfect correlation as not everyone is triggered by it. However, there seems to be a curious effect. In those of us that aren't triggered by it, it actually seems to be a semi-abortive or at least lessens the symptoms. Probably all comes down to body chemistry and how we respond to substances.

Tecky - thanks and yup she is a blue heeler. My younger girl. We had just finished a race at a flyball tournament and she was actually allowing photos and gave me some really cute expressions. I'd love to get a pic of both my girls but that doesn't seem to be in the cards. My older girl isn't shy, but bring out the camera and the younger runs.

I'm wondering about this. Until a couple of years back I would have sworn BLIND that caffeine was the only proven food/drink trigger for me.

I haven't touched caffeine in about 10 years, because it was 100% guaranteed to result in a migraine - the only guarantee in the muddy world of migraine that I had.

However, my migraines have grown steadily worse over the years anyway, so I wonder if I could get away with a sneaky can of coke every now and again or - even better - eat some stupendously good quality dark chocolate! If I'm going to get a migraine, why not enjoy the lead up?

However, I know in my heart of hearts I'm off caffeine for life, though know plenty of people who get migraines if they try to give it up, so it's obviously a key factor somewhere along the line!

LHx

LHx - I thought the same about alcohol. Didn't even want a sip of anything. Still got migraines at the same frequency. I've since had a cocktail or beer on occasions and hasn't triggered one at all. In fact, I think I'll start a new thread on the "schedule" of migraines.

HeelerLady wrote:I think caffeine is like any other chemical we take in. Some of us are going to have a strong reaction to it, others it won't do anything. Before this bout started, I would get a cappuccino once a week as a treat and if I got a M, get one and it helped. I should mention that I don't drink soda pop or take other meds with caffeine. Once all this started, I went to drinking some coffee every day. To be honest, it helps to knock things down some. It hasn't changed the frequency (can't get much worse than daily) or the severity. It does help me get through the morning when things aren't starting out too bad. If my doctor told me, no more, well I'd comply but my days would be harder to get started and through the mornings.

My girlfriend can drink coffee at 10:00 at night, and fall asleep half hour later if she wants. That is astounding to me. I can't drink anything caffeinated after 5:00 pm or I will be up all night. It definitely goes to show that it affects everyone in a different way as you say.

The last time I drank coffee after 6pm I had a half-caf cup of coffee around 8pm and was up until dawn the next day.

I typically drink a cup a day, in the morning, and most of the time don't finish it - ie., it gets cold and I pour it out. Some days I have a second cup in the afternoon, if I'm out and about and treat myself to a cup of Starbucks. I love Starbucks, but money being tight, I don't get to treat myself very often. That's it, and some days I skip coffee altogether. I don't drink soda at all (hate carbonation), don't eat alot of chocolate, and otherwise don't think there's too much caffeine in my diet. I don't notice an increase in my migraines to due caffeine consumption.

However, I have noticed that if I feel a migraine coming on, and I haven't had any coffee, that a cup of coffee will often help bring the migraine down a few points on the pain scale, and if I can catch it early enough, can - along with just ibruprofen - get rid of the migraine altogether. So it's actually a good preventative for me.

Isn't there caffeine in imitrex? Or am I confusing imitrex with another drug I've been on that had caffeine (entirely possible for me!)?

Not sure that imitrex has it but fioricet does.

AuntieBubbs wrote:The last time I drank coffee after 6pm I had a half-caf cup of coffee around 8pm and was up until dawn the next day.

I typically drink a cup a day, in the morning, and most of the time don't finish it - ie., it gets cold and I pour it out. Some days I have a second cup in the afternoon, if I'm out and about and treat myself to a cup of Starbucks. I love Starbucks, but money being tight, I don't get to treat myself very often. That's it, and some days I skip coffee altogether. I don't drink soda at all (hate carbonation), don't eat alot of chocolate, and otherwise don't think there's too much caffeine in my diet. I don't notice an increase in my migraines to due caffeine consumption.

However, I have noticed that if I feel a migraine coming on, and I haven't had any coffee, that a cup of coffee will often help bring the migraine down a few points on the pain scale, and if I can catch it early enough, can - along with just ibruprofen - get rid of the migraine altogether. So it's actually a good preventative for me.

Isn't there caffeine in imitrex? Or am I confusing imitrex with another drug I've been on that had caffeine (entirely possible for me!)?

This has been my experience as well. I am not really a coffee drinker. But I find if when I first start to feel any headache symptoms, I drink a cup of coffee, it will actually stop the headache from coming on in some cases. It's all about timing and it won't always work, but I always at least try to give that shot before I medicate.

Exactly. It doesn't always work, and other factors come into play - how long I slept, if I've eaten, etc. - but it is still often the first thing I think, "can I drink a cup of coffee and get rid of this headache?"

In better times, I used to go to Las Vegas alot, and there are alot of migraine triggers there, but I could almost always head off a migraine with coffee and ibuprofen.

I dont think Caffeine has any effect on me like you all are describing.
I dont like coffee, it gives me indigestion.
I can drink as much soda as I like and it does nothing. I dont care for it, it is too sweet.
I could drink an of the above or take 2 Excedrin and go to bed.
I would still fall asleep as normal.

Hmmm what does this mean I wonder??

I can drink coffee all day and go to sleep within minutes. Has no effect on me at all. I usually just drink it in the AM though because I get sick of it by noon.

Another thing we share then Linda....I wonder if one of us found a fix it would work for the other>???

Probably Pen. That is why I wish you could at least try the DHE. Doesn't cure them, but gets rid of them.