--- title: Are there neurochemical differences in the premenstrual phase for women with menstrual migraines? description: Women with menstrual migraines show reduced brain hormone responses to a nerve-stimulating drug during the premenstrual phase, but not other times. This sugge url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-failure-of-alpha-adrenergic-stimulation-on-hypothalamus-pituitary-1989/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are there neurochemical differences in the premenstrual phase for women with menstrual migraines? Survey study, 1989 # Are there neurochemical differences in the premenstrual phase for women with menstrual migraines? Women with menstrual migraines show reduced brain hormone responses to a nerve-stimulating drug during the premenstrual phase, but not other times. This suggests a specific nerve system weakness that may explain premenstrual migraines. Early or limited evidence 9 women with menstrual migraines and 6 healthy control women ## What they did Cross-sectional lab study of 9 women with menstrual migraines and 6 healthy control women. Researchers gave clonidine (0.075 mg intravenously) in two menstrual cycle phases: early luteal and late luteal (premenstrual). They measured stress hormones and brain chemicals in response to the drug. ## What they found In both cycle phases, clonidine similarly reduced norepinephrine and a related chemical in migraine patients and controls. However, in migraine patients, clonidine stimulated beta-endorphin and growth hormone only in the early luteal phase, not during the premenstrual phase. In healthy controls, cycle phase did not affect hormone responses. This suggests reduced sensitivity of a particular nerve receptor during the premenstrual period in migraine patients. ## What it means for you Women with menstrual migraines may have a specific biological vulnerability in their nerve systems during the premenstrual phase. This could explain why migraines worsen at this time. The study is very small and laboratory-based, so findings need replication in larger studies. 9 Women with menstrual migraines 6 Healthy control women 0.075 mg Clonidine dose (intravenous) ## About the study Original title Premenstrual failure of alpha-adrenergic stimulation on hypothalamus-pituitary responses in menstrual migraine Authors Facchinetti F, Martignoni E, Nappi G et al. Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1989 Study design Survey study What was tested Clonidine (0.075 mg intravenous) challenge test Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198909000-00006](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198909000-00006) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Survey study, 2023 How common are migraines linked to the menstrual cycle in women with PMS? Review, 2001 Do common health conditions get worse at certain times in your menstrual cycle? Survey study, 1988 Do women with premenstrual syndrome have abnormal opioid hormone activity during the menstrual cycle? Study, 1986 Do women with menstrually-related migraine have different hormone levels than women with epilepsy? Cohort study, 1979 Do women's moods change with the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗