Rely on CoQ10 to Relieve Headaches
In last month’s newsletter I discussed migraine and tension headaches. It appears that excess glutamate, either from the diet or the tissues themselves, is playing a major role.
While migraine headaches can be very difficult to control, tension headaches have been the most resistant to treatment and their cause has been elusive. New studies indicate that there may be a strong link between fibromyalgia and tension headaches. That link appears to be glutamate excitotoxicity.
One study found that 70 percent of people with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia improved significantly when treated with a glutamate receptor-blocking drug.
To date, no one has conducted a well-controlled study to see if glutamate blockers, such as dextromethorphan (a cough medicine), can improve tension headaches.
Prolonged use of CoQ10 can significantly improve drug-resistant migraine headaches. There is some evidence that it may also help tension headaches.
I have used it in a few patients during acute migraine headache attacks and had dramatic termination of the attacks — but it takes high doses. In one case of a severe migraine I gave 600 mg as a single dose and within 15 minutes all the pain had subsided. Using the same dose with tension headaches has had some positive results as well.
We know that hypoglycemia is a major trigger for both types of headaches and that hypoglycemia raises glutamate levels, thus triggering excitotoxicity. CoQ10 can reduce excitotoxicity by supplying tissues with a rapid energy supply.
In addition, it neutralizes free radicals, reduces excess iron in cells, and reduces lipid peroxidation. The problem with most previous studies is that the dosages used were too low.
