Caffeine and Migraines: Is coffee a potential solution?
In the world of migraines, understanding the impact of everyday substances like caffeine is crucial. Here's what you need to know.
For most people, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day does not pose significant health concerns. However, for those with migraines, it's a different story. It's advisable for them to limit their intake to less than 100 mg, equivalent to approximately one cup of coffee, to avoid potential triggers.
When it comes to treating migraines, moderate, limited caffeine use (up to 130 mg per dose) can offer relief. This dose, similar to a small cup of coffee or strong tea, can reduce migraine pain and improve the effectiveness of painkillers [3]. However, chronic excessive intake should be avoided to prevent triggering or worsening migraine headaches [1][3][5].
Fixed-dose combinations like paracetamol plus 130 mg of caffeine have shown significant efficacy and safety for migraine treatment. But, careful patient education is necessary to avoid caffeine overdosage and dependence [1].
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a general daily caffeine limit of 400 mg for healthy adults. Consuming more than this limit increases the risks of triggering migraines, jitteriness, or anxiety [2][5].
However, individual tolerance varies, and patients should consult their physicians to balance caffeine use as a treatment versus a trigger [4]. It's important to note that drinking coffee is not a viable treatment for migraines according to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF) [6].
Avoiding chronic caffeine overconsumption is critical because quickly stopping high caffeine intake can worsen headaches [3]. People with migraines should be aware that decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine, with around 97.5% of its caffeine removed [7].
If a person with migraine continues to drink coffee, they should keep track of their daily caffeine intake, limit it to no more than 200 mg, and be aware of all products containing caffeine [8].
In addition to caffeine, migraine headaches can be treated with various medications such as anti-inflammatories, triptans, antiemetics, beta-blockers, antiepileptics, antidepressants, botox, and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists [9].
Other alternative therapies like acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, and yoga may help alleviate migraine headaches. Biofeedback therapy, in particular, has led to a 45-60% reduction in headache frequency and severity [10].
It's also worth mentioning that caffeine withdrawal can be a migraine trigger, and a person can become dependent on caffeine in just 7 days [11]. Around 50% of people experiencing caffeine withdrawal report having headaches [12].
Drinking coffee or other caffeinated drinks can also trigger a migraine headache for some individuals. Consuming excess caffeine carries the risk of turning episodic migraine headaches into chronic migraine headaches [13].
The symptoms of caffeine withdrawal can begin 12-24 hours after a person stops consuming caffeine and can last for 2-9 days [14]. Some studies have shown that drinking coffee can help reduce the severity of migraine headaches, while others have demonstrated that caffeine can trigger migraine headaches [15].
In conclusion, for individuals with migraines, moderate, limited caffeine use (e.g., ≤130 mg per dose, ≤10 days/month) is recommended, particularly as part of combination therapies. But, chronic excessive intake should be avoided to prevent triggering or worsening migraine headaches [1][3][5].
- For those with migraines, it's advisable to limit caffeine intake to less than 100 mg per day, equivalent to approximately one cup of coffee, to avoid potential triggers.
- Moderate, limited caffeine use (up to 130 mg per dose) can offer relief for migraines and improve the effectiveness of painkillers.
- However, chronic excessive caffeine intake should be avoided to prevent triggering or worsening migraine headaches.
- Consuming more than the FDA's recommended daily caffeine limit of 400 mg increases the risks of triggering migraines, jitteriness, or anxiety.
- Caffeine withdrawal can be a migraine trigger, and a person can become dependent on caffeine in just 7 days.
- In addition to caffeine, migraine headaches can be treated with various medications, including anti-inflammatory drugs, triptans, antiemetics, beta-blockers, antiepileptics, antidepressants, botox, and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists.
