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CAFFEINE MAY TRIGGER MOST MIGRAINES
Linda M. Selwa, MD and colleagues at the University of Michigan Health System
report that a dramatic percent of migraine headaches may be triggered by
drug-rebound from caffeine.
“Many of my patients have told me stories about needing caffeine when they feel
a headache coming on, or having headaches on the weekends when they haven’t had
their usual work-day amount of caffeine,”
explains Dr. Selwa.
“In fact, caffeine is a key ingredient in almost all of the over-the-counter
migraine medications. That’s because caffeine is useful in stopping a headache
once it starts,” she continues. “The unfortunate thing is that, in patients who
use caffeine chronically, they’re much more likely to get a migraine as the
caffeine begins to
wear off.”
Participants in Dr. Selwa’s study are instructed to discontinue caffeine use for
one month.
“In several patients, we’ve been able to get them off their migraine medications
as long as they stay away from caffeine,” comments Dr. Selwa.
“Migraines are a significant cause of disability in this country, resulting in
an estimated $13 billion dollars in lost work hours each year,” she notes.
University of Michigan – April 4, 2003.
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