Migraine Headache and Glucosamine

An anecdotal case report of a female with osteoarthritis who received glucosamine at 500mg, 3 times daily, noted that she had relief of her migraine headaches for the first time in 20 years while on the Glucosamine. After this case report, the author gave glucosamine at 500 to 1,500mg, 3 times daily to 10 other patients with therapy-refractory migraine or migraine-like headaches and noticed after 4 to 6 weeks, there was a significant reduction in the frequency and/or intensity of headaches noted. In some cases, the relief was dose-dependent, providing relief only after the initial dose of 500mg, 3 times daily, was increased. There were no adverse side effects noted after the 6-month observation period. The authors believe that supplemental glucosamine may enhance mast cell heparin deficiency, which may have an anti-inflammatory effect and prevent neurogenic inflammation that might cause the pain in vascular headache.

"Glucosamine for Migraine Prophylaxis?" Russell AL, McCarty MF, Med Hypotheses, 2000;55(3):195-198.

A recent open label trial of Coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive seems to indicate that CoQ10 appears to be a good migraine preventive with 61.3% of the patients in the study having a greater than 50% reduction in the number of days with migraine headache -- with no side-effects noted. "Click" link below for more information.