Migraines can be a real pain, literally. They can disrupt your daily life, making it hard to focus on work, enjoy time with family, or even get out of bed. If you’re tired of dealing with migraines and looking for a natural solution, consider giving our CoQ10 supplement a try. Scroll down to see how CoQ10 can help you find migraine relief!

Are migraines the same as headaches?

Headaches are generally milder and characterized by a dull, aching pain or pressure in the head. They often start suddenly without warning signs and can usually be relieved with rest, over-the-counter painkillers, or caffeine. Common causes include stress, dehydration, muscle tension, and sinus issues. ¹

Migraines, on the other hand, are more severe and debilitating. They unfold in distinct phases, each with its own set of symptoms: ^{2 3}

1. Prodrome (Pre-migraine): Occurs hours or days before the migraine, with mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased thirst and urination, and frequent yawning.
2. Aura: Not everyone experiences this phase, but it includes visual disturbances like flashing lights and sensory changes such as numbness and speech problems, lasting 20 to 60 minutes.
3. Headache (Attack): The most intense phase, lasting 4 to 72 hours, with severe throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
4. Postdrome (Migraine hangover): Follows the headache, lasting about a day, with symptoms like exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and a mild lingering headache.

Migraines affect about 12% of people worldwide and can seriously disrupt daily life. ⁴ While there are many treatments available, from over-the-counter painkillers to prescription medications, they don’t work for everyone.

What is CoQ10? And how can it help with migraines? 

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a natural antioxidant found in every cell of your body. It’s crucial for producing energy and protecting your cells from damage. Beyond its basic functions, CoQ10 offers several health benefits. It supports heart health, boosts energy levels, and strengthens the immune system.

Moreover, there is evidence that taking CoQ10 may help with migraines.

For instance, a study involving 1,550 subjects (aged 3 to 22) found a correlation between migraines and low CoQ10 levels. After three months of taking CoQ10 daily (1-3 mg/kg of body weight), the subjects’ CoQ10 levels increased significantly. Consequently, the frequency and severity of their migraines also went down! ⁵

Another study on 45 non-menopausal women aged 18-50 reported similar results with a daily dose of 400 mg of CoQ10 for three months. The women enjoyed a boost in their CoQ10 levels and fewer, less severe, and shorter migraine attacks. ⁶

Additionally, a meta-analysis of five studies with 346 patients (120 children and 226 adults) found that CoQ10 may reduce the duration and number of migraines per month. ⁷

As you can see, there is compelling evidence to support CoQ10’s use for migraine prevention. In fact, the Canadian Headache Society includes CoQ10, Magnesium, and nine other options in their ‘strongly recommended’ list for migraine prevention. ⁸

When’s the best time to take CoQ10 for migraines?

Since CoQ10 boosts energy, it’s best to take it in the morning with a fat-containing meal to help power you through the day. We’ve included MCT oil in our CoQ10 softgels to aid absorption, but taking them with food enhances this even more.

Also, consistency is key. Supplements often take a few weeks to start showing benefits, so please be patient and stick with a daily routine.

How much CoQ10 should be taken for migraine relief?

Each softgel of our CoQ10 supplement contains 200mg of CoQ10 in the widely studied Ubiquinone form. For most individuals, taking one softgel daily will be enough for migraine prevention. 

Would it be safe to take higher doses? Well, the studies referenced above used various CoQ10 dosages per day. For adults aged 18-50, a dose of 400 mg/day was common (this is equivalent to taking 2 of our CoQ10 softgels daily). 

For children and adolescents, doses of 1-3 mg per kilogram of body weight were used. This means that someone weighing 30 kg would take 30-90 mg daily.

With that said, make sure to consult your doctor before using CoQ10 for migraine prevention and relief, especially if you’re taking other supplements or medications.

In addition to CoQ10, is there anything else that can help with migraine relief?

Absolutely! Magnesium is another excellent supplement for migraine relief. It’s been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, especially for those who experience migraines with aura. And just like CoQ10, Magnesium is also on the Canadian Headache Society’s list of ‘strongly recommended’ migraine prophylaxis! ⁸

Aside from these ‘migraine supplements’, healthy lifestyle changes also play a huge role in managing migraines.  

Eating a balanced diet rich in magnesium and antioxidants, staying hydrated, managing stress, and regular exercise can all help reduce migraine triggers. Also, establishing a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding common triggers like certain foods, alcohol, and bright lights are beneficial. 

Finally, keeping a migraine diary to track your triggers and symptoms can help you identify and avoid patterns that lead to headaches.

Conclusion

Don’t let migraines keep you from living your best life. Imagine waking up refreshed, going through your day without the looming fear of a migraine attack, and enjoying more quality time with loved ones. With CoQ10, you can reclaim those moments and finally find the relief you’ve been searching for.  

References:

1. Information, National Center for Biotechnology, et al. Migraine: Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), 30 May 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279373/. ︎
2. Shankar Kikkeri, Nidhi, and Shivaraj Nagalli. “Migraine with Aura.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554611. ︎
3. Pescador Ruschel, Marco A., and Orlando De Jesus. “Migraine Headache.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 23 Aug. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560787/. ︎
4. MedLine Plus. “Migraine.” Medlineplus.gov, National Library of Medicine, 2019, medlineplus.gov/migraine.html. ︎
5. Hershey, Andrew D., et al. “Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency and Response to Supplementation in Pediatric and Adolescent Migraine.” Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, vol. 47, no. 1, Jan. 2007, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00652.x. ︎
6. Dahri, Monireh, et al. “Oral Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Patients with Migraine: Effects on Clinical Features and Inflammatory Markers.” Nutritional Neuroscience, vol. 22, no. 9, 3 Jan. 2018, pp. 607–615, https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415x.2017.1421039. ︎
7. Zeng, ZhiYong, et al. “Efficacy of CoQ10 as Supplementation for Migraine: A Meta-Analysis.” Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, vol. 139, no. 3, 3 Dec. 2018, pp. 284–293, https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13051. ︎
8. Pringsheim, Tamara, et al. “Canadian Headache Society Guideline for Migraine Prophylaxis.” The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques, vol. 39, no. 2 Suppl 2, 1 Mar. 2012, pp. S1-59, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22683887/. ︎

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