Migraines are strong and incapacitating headaches. During a migraine attack, sound and light often become intolerable. The condition may also impair your ability to perform routine chores such as your normal job tasks. Migraine may be linked to the genes that control your brain cells. Two forms of lysine-based drugs, lysine acetylsalicylate and lysine clonixinate, are available to alleviate migraine pain. Consult with your doctor before taking either medication.
About Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid -- your body needs it, but cannot produce it. Amino acids are the components of proteins. Proteins, in turn, are necessary to continuously build new healthy cells, which make up everything in your body, including your head, where migraines take place. Your system also uses lysine to produce carnitine, a nutrient that transforms fatty acids into energy and controls cholesterol levels.
Lysine Acetylsalicylate
Lysine acetylsalicylate is a form of aspirin, a chemical with pain-relieving properties. In April 2011, the journal "Neurology" published the findings of a study that measured the effectiveness of lysine acetylsalicylate against severe headaches. The researchers start by acknowledging the well-established fact in the scientific community that this substance alleviates the usual acute migraine attack. The study concludes that lysine acetylsalicylate is also powerful against strong headaches brought on by chemical withdrawal. In this project, researchers administered lysine acetylsalicylate intravenously.
Lysine Acetylsalicylate's Mechanism
When you take a drug that contains lysine acetylsalicylate as an active ingredient, your body synthesizes the chemical into aspirin, an analgesic. The aspirin blocks the action of the chemical cyclooxygenase, a substance that occurs naturally in your body that produces chemicals responsible for the sensation of pain. You experience relief from your migraine when cyclooxygenase's action becomes inhibited.
Lysine Clonixinate
Lysine clonixinate is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Some of its formulation comes from nicotinic acid: niacin, or vitamin B3. In 2001, the Brazilian journal "Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria" -- "Archives of Neuropsychiatry" -- reported on research that examined whether lysine clonixinate relieved acute migraine. The substance relieved moderate migraine pain within one to four hours of administration of the drug at a better rate than the placebo used. Regarding its performance against severe migraine, lysine clonixinate also relieved pain, but at the same rate of success as the placebo.
Lysine Clonixinate's Mechanism
Like lysine acetylsalicylate, lysine clonixinate blocks the action of cyclooxygenase. Your body absorbs this form of lysine quickly through the liver. As a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, lysine clonixinate may also stop the release of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that constricts the blood vessels and may trigger pain.
References
- MedlinePlus: Migraine
- Drugs.com: Lysine
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lysine
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protein
- "Neurology"; Intravenous Aspirin (Lysine Acetylsalicylate) in the Inpatient Management of Headache; M. W. Weatherall, Ph.D., F.R.C.P.Ed.; April 5, 2011
- Drugs.com: MigraMax
