Migraine
Headache relief

According to the National Headache Foundation, about 28 million Americans are affected by migraine headaches (National Headache Foundation 2004). Although migraine was recognized by ancient doctors, its cause is still disputed by experts on the disorder. Even today, no single hypothesis has been accepted by conventional science.

Perhaps because of the confusion surrounding the cause of migraines, conventional medicine has not been able to effectively approach this debilitating condition. Fortunately, however, researchers at Life Extension have closely studied migraine headaches and proposed a novel theory that, for the first time, unites the various lines of research. Although the theory, dubbed the Neurohormonal and Metabolic Dysbalance Hypothesis of Migraine, hasn't been tested in clinical trials, anecdotal evidence strongly supports Life Extension's approach, and clinical trials have validated the individual tenets of the hypothesis.

What Is Migraine?

Migraine headaches are usually classified as either common migraine or classic migraine. A classic migraine is preceded by an aura with characteristic visual, sensory, or motor symptoms. Aura usually includes visual abnormalities (e.g., flashes, shimmering, and other hallucinations that seem to migrate through the visual field) and neurological abnormalities such as tingling sensations (Kasper DL et al 2005; Silberstein SD et al 1995b).

Migraine attacks often include features that occur in sequence, including the following:

• Prodrome. This stage is marked by a change in mood that begins hours or days before the headache. Symptoms of prodrome include depression, sleepiness, talkativeness, restlessness, or other alterations ( Silberstein SD et al 2003).
• Aura. Aura is characterized by visual abnormalities, including flashes, shimmering, and other hallucinations.
• Headache phase. The headache itself is typically one sided but may affect both sides of the head. It is usually gradual in onset, moderate to severe in pain intensity, throbbing, and worse with physical exertion, and it can last anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days in children and 4 hours to 3 days in adults (Silberstein SD et al 2003; Joubert J 2005). The frequency of migraine attacks is unpredictable ( Silberstein SD et al 2003). The headache stage is often accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, tenderness of the scalp or neck, lightheadedness, sweating, and pallor (Silberstein SD et al 2003; Silberstein SD 1995a).

Migraines are about three times as common in women as in men (Lim C 2005; Breslau N et al 2001; Lipton RB et al 2001), and they typically begin between the ages of 10 and 40. The frequency of migraine headaches appears to increase with age, with peak frequency in women during their 30s and 40s and in men during their 30s, and then seems to decrease (Henry P et al 1992). Among some women, migraines decrease in severity or disappear entirely during menopause ( Silberstein SD et al 2003). Clearly, migraine's close correlation with sexual maturity and menopause in women suggests that steroid hormones are involved in the disease.

Migraine headaches also tend to run in families, and there is a definite genetic predisposition (Kasper DL et al 2005). More than 50 percent of migraine sufferers have a relative who also suffers from migraine (Lim C 2005).

Migraines have frequently been found to coexist with psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety and major depression), neurotic personality, stroke, and epilepsy (Breslau N et al 2001; Davey G et al 2002; Breslau N et al 1995). Links between migraine and other disorders, such as cerebrovascular disease, are under evaluation (Breslau N et al 2001).

Uniting the Migraine Theories

Throughout the years, various theories have been advanced to explain what causes migraine headaches. Naturally, each of these theories has been accompanied by a narrow treatment protocol. The problem, however, is that migraine is likely caused by various and overlapping abnormalities. As a result, no single treatment protocol has been uniformly successful, and many migraine patients are unsatisfied with their results.

One of the first theories to explain migraines was the classic theory of vasoconstriction/vasodilation. According to this theory, migraine headaches are caused by the constriction of blood vessels in the brain, followed by dilation (Spierings EL 2003; Deleu D et al 2000). Brain studies during migraine have shown that blood flow to the brain is in fact abnormal, which likely contributes to the symptoms (Kasper DL et al 2005).

The theory of hyperexcitability builds on the idea of vasoconstriction/vasodilation. According to the theory of hyperexcitability, the brains of migraine sufferers are extra susceptible to normal triggers, such as stress, and the frequency of migraines depends on the level of excitability. An external trigger, such as stress, causes the sudden constriction of the blood vessels in the brain, which launches the migraine headache. The cause of this excitability is thought to be abnormal brain chemistry, especially in the relationship between calcium and magnesium. During periods of excitability, calcium flows from the extracellular fluid to the intracellular space, resulting in vasoconstriction. Therefore, anything that blocks the flow of calcium or restores the balance of magnesium to calcium would be helpful in mitigating migraine. In fact, studies have shown calcium channel blockers, which block the flow of calcium into cells, can successfully prevent migraine attacks (Bartleson JD 1999).

Another theory proposes a derangement of serotonin metabolism and an excess of neurotransmitters (Beckett BE et al 2002). During migraine, serotonin levels are depressed in the brain, and certain drugs, called triptans, that selectively stimulate certain serotonin receptors, have been shown to reduce the symptoms of migraine (Kasper DL et al 2005). This theory is further supported by the fact that melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland along with serotonin, is also reduced during migraine, suggesting that the pineal gland is depressed in migraine patients (Claustrat B et al 1989). Finally, high levels of steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen) can interact with the serotonin transport system, further compromising the availability of serotonin.

Other parts of the nervous system, including the sympathetic nervous system, are also implicated in migraines. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for various functions, including increasing the contractility of smooth muscle and increasing the heart rate. Many of the factors that trigger migraine, such as stress and hormonal changes, also act on the sympathetic nervous system (Kasper DL et al 2005). By the same token, drugs that mimic or enhance norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system) can alleviate migraine (Kasper DL et al 2005).

And, as mentioned above, evidence implicates steroid hormonal imbalances in migraine. Many women note that their migraine attacks occur in connection with their menses, and abnormal hormone levels are closely associated with migraine headaches (Recober A et al 2005). This connection will be discussed in greater detail below.

While none of these theories alone can explain migraine headaches, together they provide an excellent framework for understanding the condition and therefore better managing it. According to Life Extension's Neurohormonal and Metabolic Dysbalance Hypothesis of Migraine, migraine headaches are caused by a collection of disorders:

• Malfunctions in the neurohormonal system, including the feedback loop between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the glands that produce sex hormones
• An imbalance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
• An imbalance between calcium and magnesium
• Improper functioning of the pineal gland

Furthermore, Life Extension's approach to migraine takes into consideration the digestive complaints that frequently plague migraine patients. Many migraine patients report constipation and gastrointestinal upset, which suggests that absorption of nutrients is poor (Diamond S et al 2002).

Conventional Treatment of Migraine

Generally speaking, conventional treatment of migraine follows one of three approaches—all of which may be used in the same patient. The first is prevention of migraines; the second is stopping a migraine as it is beginning; and the third is to lessen the pain of an ongoing migraine attack. In each approach, certain drugs have been shown to be effective.

In general, migraine patients who suffer from severe, recurrent migraines that are not responsive to acute drugs (e.g., drugs that are used to treat conventional headaches) are candidates for medications that attempt to prevent migraines (Lawrence EC 2004; Silberstein SD et al 2000a). Prophylactic drugs must be taken daily, and there is usually a lag of two to six weeks before the effect is felt (Kasper DL et al 2005). Drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent migraines include propanolol, timolol, sodium valproate, methysergide, verapamil, and amitriptyline. The probability of success with any drug is about 50 percent to 75 percent, so it is not unusual for drugs to be rotated until an effective one is found (Kasper DL et al 2005).

Most migraine sufferers, however, rely on drugs that attempt either to abort a migraine once symptoms become apparent or to reduce the pain of an existing headache. Drugs used to abort fledgling migraines or treat the pain associated with migraines include the following:

5-HT (serotonin receptor) agonists (triptans). These agents target serotonin receptors, which results in pain relief (Beckett BE et al 2002). The triptans are currently regarded as either first-line therapy for moderate-to-severe migraine or as rescue management for those patients for whom nonspecific abortive therapies have failed ( Silberstein SD 2000a, 2000b).

Ergot alkaloids and ergot derivatives. These agents lead to constriction of the blood vessels within the skull ( Silberstein SD 1997), stunt the process of neurogenic inflammation ( Silberstein SD 1997), affect neurotransmitter receptors, and lead to arterial and venous constriction (Beckett BE et al 2002; Silberstein SD et al 1995c; Silberstein SD 1997).

Painkillers and painkiller combination drugs. These include over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen and aspirin, as well as prescription headache relief combination medications including Fiorinal (a combination of aspirin, butalbital, and caffeine) and Fioricet (a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine) (Beckett BE et al 2002).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium (Pfaffenrath V et al 1995).

Opiate analgesics. These drugs are classified as powerful pain medicines. (Rang HP et al 2005).

Antiemetics. These drugs are used as adjunctive agents (in addition to abortive therapies) to alleviate nausea and vomiting associated with the migraine attack or abortive therapies for acute episodes (Beckett BE et al 2002).

Corticosteroids. These drugs may be used when other conventional therapies have failed or are contraindicated (Beckett BE et al 2002; Klapper J et al 1991).

Lidocaine. A 4 percent topical solution provides effective pain relief during acute migraine episodes when applied to the nasal cavities (Beckett BE et al 2002; Maizels M et al 1999; Maizels M et al 1996).

Botox. While the exact mechanism through which botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections relieve migraine pain and prevent migraines is currently under investigation, it has been hypothesized that Botox works by inhibiting release of transmitters from the pain-sensitive nerve endings (Dodick D et al 2004). Several studies found that Botox is effective in reducing migraine severity, frequency, and associated disability (Gruener G et al 2003; Smuts JA et al 2004; Dodick D et al 2004; Binder WJ et al 2003; Cordivari C et al 2004; Gobel H 2004; Schim J 2004; Behmand RA et al 2003).

Migraine: The Hormone Connection

There is little doubt that migraines are closely related to hormonal imbalance in both men and women. Because migraine occurs most often in women and is closely related to menstruation, most of the clinical studies examining migraines and hormones have been conducted in women. Their findings reveal that a deeply disturbed hormone regulation system is closely linked to the frequency and severity of migraines.

Migraine headaches increase among women after puberty, and many women have migraines that are closely associated with menstruation (Beckham JC et al 1992). Estrogen withdrawal has been described as a trigger for migraine headache, which explains why some women suffer from migraines when estrogen levels are low (Misakian AL et al 2003). However, conventional estrogen replacement therapy with synthetic estrogens is not always able to relieve migraines. It works for some women, but in others, estrogen therapy appears to worsen migraines (Chavanu KJ et al 2002). Similarly, in a recent study examining 17,107 postmenopausal women, migraine was more common among women who were on conventional hormone replacement therapy (Misakian AL et al 2003). Another study noted that it was difficult to predict which postmenopausal women would suffer from worse migraines because of conventional hormone replacement therapy (Hodson J et al 2000).These studies examined women on conventional hormone replacement therapy, which includes strong equine estrogens synthesized from the urine of pregnant mares.

Although researchers are still looking for an explanation, it appears that progesterone levels may help explain the trial data. During a typical monthly cycle of a healthy premenopausal woman, estrogen levels rise during the first part of the cycle. After the egg is released, progesterone levels rise quickly to prepare the uterus for implantation, and the levels of estrogen decline. If implantation does not occur, levels of progesterone and estrogen both decline quickly, and menstruation occurs to prepare the uterus for another cycle. By carefully studying women with menstrual migraine during this cycle, researchers made some interesting discoveries. Essentially, they found that migraines are more severe and disabling during the phase of the cycle when estrogen is dominant and that women with relatively higher levels of progesterone fared better on a headache outcome index (Martin VT et al 2005).

This research suggests that it is not the absolute levels of estrogen that are associated with migraine among women but rather an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. This theory would also help explain why conventional hormone replacement therapy among postmenopausal women sometimes exacerbates migraine headaches: it is not necessarily the withdrawal from estrogen but perhaps the imbalance between estrogen and progesterone that occurs when postmenopausal women take strong synthetic estrogens during conventional hormone replacement therapy.

Thus, to help balance progesterone and estrogen levels, Life Extension recommends comprehensive hormone testing and, if necessary, hormone restoration with bioidentical hormones that mimic a woman's natural balance of the various estrogens. When used as part of a multifactorial approach, this measure has been shown to help relieve migraine (Dzugan SA et al 2003).