Migraine

I'm wondering if anyone has found any success with hormone related therapy to help with migraines. My Neurologist thinks it would be a waste of time but I thought I'd ask around. My GP has put me on continual birthcontrol because we thought it is the drop in estrogen that makes my migraines really bad right before my period but the birth control only made my migraines worse and not just during the period before my period, all the time. I'm of the birthcontrol now and my migraines have returned to normal (still daily but not as severe).

Jackie

Birth control to try and help with hormonally triggered migraines seems to be hit and miss for migraineurs. Some people find that birth control pills are contraindicated, as they aggravate things on the migraine front. Other people do find relief by using birth control pills to even out their cycles and hormones. It's very individual. I can tell you that some of those who have been helped by it report that some brands/formulas are better than others for them. The only way you'd know for yourself would be to try it.

I tried searching our links file for birth control info, but it's telling me there isn't anything. But...that isn't going to stop me from searching the whole website! If you click the link, it'll take you to the first page of links I got just by searching for "birth control" in the site search box at the top right of the forum screen. You can search further if you like, narrowing the search field.

Jackie,

This may help you. It's from our Ask the Clinician Column - Role of hormones in Migraines?

Hope it helps at least a bit. It talks about hormone replacement therapy, but the principles are the same.

Thanks!

Now that I'm off Alesse again I feel MUCH better and my migraines have gone to their normal level. Has anyone had any luck with any specific birthcontrol medication that has reduced migraine attacks/severity? I'll post this under the forum sections too and see if anyone has any positive experience with this.

Jackie

Yes, I have the same question!!!

I've been getting AWFUL migraines for the past few months with vertigo, dizziness, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound that seem to be pretty constant. (Doc confirms it's vestibular migraines, or MAV)It's rare that I have a good day. I don't often get head pain along with it, unless it's the week I'm on my sugar pills, then I get a "classic" menstrual migraine that lasts a day or so. My little sister just mentioned to me the other day that she's recently started getting them as well, and I just put two and two together....she just got married 6 months ago, and started birth control for the first time. Bingo!

I also had started birth control for the first time 2 years ago when I got married, and realized that's when the migraines began to get worse. I'd never really made the connection before, because it seems like they've only ramped up to a constant thing in the past few months or so. I could deal with the once a month ones. About 6 months ago, a new doc switched me from Orthotricyclen Lo to Microgestin after having to change med insurance, so I'm wondering if that's what set it all off. It also seems to have annihilated my libido, poof, totally gone. (Not that I'm in the mood with all these migraines anyway!)

Does anyone have experience with birth control pills causing migraines? If so, is there a kind of bc pill that will help make them better? I'd really like to keep on some sort of pill (not ready for kids yet), and just condoms seem too unreliable. I've also heard that stopping bc pills cold turkey is even worse for migrainers. So is there any advice? I'm taking Topomax to help with the migraines, but I'd rather just eliminate the problem in the first place.... Before all this, I had gotten random migraines every now and then, but never like this, to the point where it interfered with my everyday life and kept me from driving anywhere out of fear.

I have had really good success with hormone therapy. I have used back-to-back cycles of Alesse bcp's for years to reduce the severity and frequency of my menstrual migraines. In fact, it's one of the few "preventive" options that works for me. I realize it slightly increases my risk for stroke since I have migraines with aura, but my doctors and I agree the benefits outweigh the risks in my case (I am young, healthy, and have no risk factors for stroke...except too much migraine activity). My sister, on the other hand, never had migraines in her life until she started taking BCP's...so it's really a hit or miss thing. Good luck! michelle