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.
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
Topics
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