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Migraines and Too Much Sugar

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Migraine Headache
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GinaG65
New Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 3
Posted 10/24/2008 9:05 AM (GMT -8)
I'm new here -- sorry if this has been brought up before.

I've noticed that whenever I have excessive sugar, it triggers a migraine. This could be chocolate, candy, fruit juice, etc. When I noticed the connection a couple of years ago, I went to the doctor and said, "I get migraines when I eat or drink sweet things" and his response was, "Well, don't eat or drink sweet things." eyes    I was put on Sumatriptin to take when I felt a migraine coming on, and Pizotifen to take each night as a preventative measure. The pizotifen worked wonders, I must say.

But lately, the medication isn't helping and I've had 3 migraines in the past month. I can take up to 3 Pizotifen tablets (5mg each) and I've been taking the maximum and it's still not working. I went to the doctor (a different one) last week and explained about the sugar thing. While he said they can't do tests for the migraine they can test the blood sugar, so I'm going next week. And my dosage of Pizotifen might be increased.

I've read online that refined sugar can cause the blood sugar to go up and down too fast, and can cause migraines. I suspect this might be my problem. Just wondering if anyone else has a similar problem? And what foods do I avoid (other than the obvious chocolate, alcohol, etc), i.e. are starchy food like potatoes bad?

I guess I'm just looking for a bit of support, I'm so sick of being sick! cry   It's really got me down. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

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hexelon
New Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 2
Posted 10/24/2008 11:47 AM (GMT -8)
My sugar whether from cake or fruit often give me a migraine within a few hours or as much as 24 hours later. Really odd. So it must be a trigger rather than blood sugar elevation. Ice-cream is less likely to give a migraine.
My migraines always involve the neck. I take half a 50mg. Imitrex and helps in an hour or so. I understand it is not a safe drug so I avoid taking it unless I really need it.
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GinaG65
New Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 3
Posted 10/24/2008 12:36 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for replying. With me, I notice it's ANY kind of sugar, except maybe sugar from fresh fruit. I avoid fruit juice like the plague! If I do drink it I have to dilute it with water. I even notice that it even tastes too sweet for me now.

Yeah I get neck pain too. I take Sumatriptan which I think is similar to Imitrex (I'm in the UK so the medication names are probably different). But I find that unless I catch the migraine RIGHT when it starts, it doesn't work.

Anyway I'm going to really pay attention to my diet and see what happens. No alcohol for me! nono

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hexelon
New Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 2
Posted 10/25/2008 11:59 AM (GMT -8)
The problem I have with sugar does not always happen. Sugar with fat less problem. Sugar on an empty stomach more likely to give me a migraine.
How soon after ingesting sugar do you get a migraine?
Always happens or sometimes not?
All Fresh fruit never give you a migraine?
Alcohol always gives you a migraine? Any amount?
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GinaG65
New Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 3
Posted 10/25/2008 12:13 PM (GMT -8)
It's tricky. The time I realized the connection was when I'd had a big glass of lemon squash (fruit juice) right before going to bed. When I woke up I was so sick I wanted to DIE.

I'd say mostly, it's cumulative. I can eat a piece of chocolate on a Monday, then maybe some cookies on a Tuesday, a bit more sugar on Wednesday -- and all this time not feel sick. So I get fooled into a sense of wellness. But then Thursday and BANG. I'm sick. So I find I really, really have to pay attention to what I eat daily. If I eat a piece of chocolate I'd better not have anything else that week. Truthfully it's too hard to keep track of so I'm better off avoiding it all together. I don't recall fresh fruit ever making me ill.

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Pegzilla
New Member
Joined : Nov 2008
Posts : 5
Posted 11/4/2008 4:29 PM (GMT -8)
OKay, okay. Quit with the sugar! It's awful for migraine sufferers.
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