Migraines/Chocolate

[Megan1]

I get bad migraines, and I especially get them when I eat chocolate (which is one of the triggers). So when I wanted to eat chocolate, I would take 3 advil before so that I wouldn't get a migraine. Well, that doesn't work any more and I still get them. Are there any medications (legal and without weird side effects, lol) that can be used to prevent chocolate from causing migraines? Or is it only certain kinds of chocolate that do this? Does anyone else have this problem?

For now, I've cut all chocolate out of my diet....but that's no fun.

[escape_thereal_world]

Migraines are still a mystery to science and doctors, so it's hard to say.

There is no medicine other than pain meds for migraines. Although, for some people the amount of cacao in the chocolate might be what causes your migraines. So, try to limit your intake as well as try to eat ones with MORE cacao in them. Cacao is the real chocolate. So you would likely want anything made of 70% or more cacoa. You might find this worsens your headaches though. If this is the case, try White chocolate, as this has very little cacao in it.

Avoid milk chocolate, or eating dark chocolate with milk.

Good luck.

[thefirstlady]

My husband doesn't won't eat chocolate because it gives him headaches. So you aren't alone there. I get migraines quite often and the only thing I've found that helps them is Excedrin Migraine or the store-brand version of it since that is usually several dollars cheaper (they have the same exact things in them).

[Megan1]

Thank you both! I will try white chocolate. And advil works well to get rid of my migraines AFTER they start, but it's not worth starting a migraine just to eat chocolate. lol

[Aletheia*]

Morgan's advice is perfect. I suffer from chronic migraines. I'm not sure what triggers them, they just come on their own from time to time. Excedrin Migraine, or it's other cheaper brands, work wonders for me, and you should give them a shot. They work in under 30 minutes after you get one, and if you're craving a piece of chocolate, take one to see if it stops the migraine before it even starts.

[Le bonheur*]

This is interesting to me because I always thought that chocolate stopped migraines/headaches because of the caffeine. I have chronic migraines like Shannon and Excedrine Migraine (or generic brands) works wonders for me. Good luck!

[escape_thereal_world]

Originally Posted by believe.in.hope

This is interesting to me because I always thought that chocolate stopped migraines/headaches because of the caffeine. I have chronic migraines like Shannon and Excedrine Migraine (or generic brands) works wonders for me. Good luck!

It depends actually. Migraines are still so unknown. Some people say it helps, others say it's a trigger. It depends on what is causing YOUR migraine.

Speculation is that for some people the amino acid (tyramine) might be what causes it. There are other theories too. For a bit more information, see here under "Chocolate".

[Megan1]

Thanks everyone!

Chocolate and cafine are both things that could either cause or help headaches/migraines, depending on the person and what triggers theirs.

Also, I tried a small piece of white chocolate (with only 25% coacoa) and it didn't give me a migraine.....so I guess it is the coacoa.

[David14]

Hi all

i suffer from headaches/migraines every week and i have a tablet called migerlive pink/yellow and that helps a lot and the headaches/migraines gose within 15 minutes