Migraine is a type of headache characterized by severe pain in the forehead and temples. It may also cause light sensitivity and vomiting. A number of triggers may set off a migraine, including fatigue, certain foods, alcohol and stress. If you suffer from frequent migraines, your doctor may prescribe prophylactic medicines including beta blockers, antidepressants and anti-seizure medicines to help prevent them. Taking a synthetic melatonin supplement may also help to prevent migraines, although evidence on their effectiveness is mixed. Talk to your doctor before using melatonin supplements.
Properties and Potential Benefits
The hormone melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland and helps to regulate the body's circadian rhythm. Melatonin supplements contain a synthetic form of the hormone, although the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that it is occasionally derived from animal sources. Although melatonin is primarily used to alleviate insomnia and jet lag, it may also play a role in the treatment of depression, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. It may also help to prevent a migraine.
Administration
Guidance regarding the dose of melatonin required to help prevent a migraine is lacking. In addition, different people may require different doses. However, RxList states that taking 10 mg of melatonin in the evening may help to prevent a cluster headache. Ask your doctor about a suitable dose for migraine prevention.
Effectiveness
Evidence to support the use of melatonin as a prophylactic migraine treatment is mixed. The results of a clinical study published in the October 2010 issue of "Neurology" show that melatonin is no more effective than placebo in helping to prevent migraines. However, an article published in "CNS Drugs" in 2006 notes that migraine sufferers often have abnormal melatonin secretions and that symptoms improve following administration of melatonin supplements. The authors add that it may prove to be a useful migraine treatment, but states that further studies are needed to confirm its effects.
Safety Considerations
Taking a melatonin supplement rarely causes adverse effects, but people may experience headache, abdominal cramps and drowsiness. Melatonin may alter estrogen levels, so women with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid taking a melatonin supplement. It may also lower the blood's ability to clot, so avoid using melatonin supplements if you are taking blood-thinning drugs like warfarin. It may also interact with nifedipine and fluvoxamine, warns the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
References
- Baptist Health Systems; Migraine Headaches; February 2011
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Melatonin; Sept. 9, 2010
- RxList: Melatonin
- "Neurology"; Prophylaxis of Migraine with Melatonin: A Randomized Controlled Trial; K.B. Alstadhaug et al.; October 2010
- "CNS Drugs"; Role of Melatonin in the Pathophysiology of Migraine: Implications for Treatment; B. Vogler et al.; 2006
