Melatonin Therapy for Migraines: What Science Says About Its Effectiveness

Often people consider migraine as just a type of headache, whereas it can be many times more serious than that. Migraine pain can last for a few minutes, hours or days. When migraine occurs, there can be severe throbbing pain in one part of the head. Apart from this, visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and tingling in hands or face etc. are considered symptoms of migraine. In some people, sensitivity to light, sound or smell can also cause migraines.

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Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland located in the brain. This hormone is necessary for good sleep at night. It is believed that melatonin can help with sleep. Actually, the body produces less melatonin during the day. At the same time, more production of melatonin starts in the evening. Melatonin levels increase significantly at night, due to which sleep occurs.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, melatonin levels in the blood rise for about 12 hours. It usually increases rapidly around 9 pm. Then after 9 am in the morning the melatonin level starts decreasing.

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Yes, several studies have shown that low levels of melatonin can cause migraine. In such a situation, migraine can be treated by taking melatonin supplements (melatonin supplement). A study published in the journal Neurology found that taking melatonin supplements can reduce migraine symptoms. Let us tell you that along with melatonin supplement, melatonin therapy can also reduce the severity of migraine. Taking melatonin therapy can reduce the frequency of migraine.

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Migraine occurs due to changes in the nervous system and imbalance in chemicals of the brain. Additionally, conditions like oversleeping or not getting enough sleep can also trigger migraine in some people.

One study found that patients with chronic migraine had low levels of melatonin in the urine. In such a situation, migraine and melatonin have been linked. This research revealed that melatonin can help in preventing or treating migraine.

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It has been proven in many studies that migraine can be treated through melatonin. Melatonin can be taken one hour before bedtime to treat migraine. This will help in increasing the level of melatonin hormone, which will also reduce the symptoms of migraine. To treat severe migraines, melatonin can be taken at bedtime for up to 8 weeks.

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Studies on the relationship between melatonin and migraine have been conducted on adults. Therefore, it is difficult to say that melatonin can treat migraine even in the elderly and children. More research is still needed in this regard. An adult can take 3 mg of melatonin every night at bedtime to treat migraine, but long-term use of melatonin should be avoided.

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The following methods can be adopted to reduce the risk of migraine:

• Eat Every Two Hours. Skipping Meals Or Fasting Can Cause Migraines.
• Avoid Aged Cheeses, Salty Foods, Processed Foods, Monosodium Glutamate, And The Sweetener Aspartame. All Of These Foods And Ingredients Have Been Found To Trigger Migraines In Some People.
• Reduce Alcohol And Caffeine Intake.
• Reduce Your Stress Levels. Stress Is A Major Trigger For Migraine Attacks, So Self-care And Stress Management Techniques Are Incredibly Important For Treating And Preventing Migraines.
• Identify And Limit Exposure To Sensory Stimuli That Trigger Your Migraines, Such As Bright Lights, Sun Glare, Loud Noises, Or Unusual Smells. Keep Your Room Quiet, Cool, Dark, And Free Of Pets When You Sleep.
• Don't Take Medications That Could Trigger Your Migraine. For Example, Birth Control Pills And Vasodilators, Such As Nitroglycerin, Can Aggravate Migraines.

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Several medications can help you prevent or treat migraines. Prescription pain relievers, anti-nausea medications, and other medications can help relieve your symptoms. If you're experiencing migraines regularly, be sure to talk to your doctor about treatment options, including melatonin.

Many things can trigger migraine. Taking melatonin can be beneficial to treat migraine. Although melatonin does not have any side effects, still to treat migraine, melatonin should be taken only on the advice of a doctor. To cure migraine, you can also take melatonin therapy on doctor's advice.