Ask the Pharmacist

Q: I have heard that there are some new natural remedies to prevent headaches that have some science to support their effectiveness. What can you tell me about them?

A: A customer of ours recently saw one of the pre-eminent neurologists in Toronto and was told about two products that appeared to be very safe and offered hope that they reduce the severity and frequency of the migraines from which she was suffering.

We had never heard of either product before but thought we would share them with you as we know far too many people whose lives are severely hampered by the headaches they experience on a regular basis.

The one product is called Gliacin and it uses as its active ingredients a blend of phtyochemicals derived from the Boswellia plant species (this is the same species of plant from which frankincense comes). While we don’t know exactly how it works in the prevention of headaches, it has been known for years that this herb has anti-inflammatory properties and, as such, has been used traditionally to treat conditions such as arthritis.

A couple of small studies have found that Gliacin is remarkably effective in the treatment of a rare group of headaches known as indomethacin-responsive headache syndromes that include primary stabbing headache, primary coughing headache, primary exertional headache, hypnic headache and primary headache associated with sexual activity (yes, this is a real thing for some). Indomethacin is a prescription-requiring anti-inflammatory.

While these are all very rare headache syndromes, there have been people who suffer from the more conventional migraine or cluster headaches, who have found this product has greatly improved the quality of their lives. Given the fact that the studies indicated the chances of suffering side effects was highly unlikely and there was no reason to be concerned with long-term safety issues, Gliacin might be worth a two-month trial to see if it can help.

The other new option was a product called Migrelief. This product is a combination of three natural ingredients: feverfew, magnesium and riboflavin, and is marketed as a supplement that can help prevent migraines from happening as frequently or as severely.

Feverfew is a plant believed to help by relaxing smooth muscle spasms in the brain’s blood vessels, as well as by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. Magnesium plays an integral role in proper nerve function and has been shown in some studies to have low levels in the brain during migraine attacks. Riboflavin, better known as Vitamin B2, is best known for its role in growth and red blood cell production but has long been studied for its usefulness in preventing migraines when taken in high doses.

The company suggests a three-month trial as an adequate experiment to see if it works but advertises that many people experience significant relief within a month. Side effects tend to be uncommon and mild as you would expect, and include the possibility of a mild upset stomach, loose stools and bright yellow-coloured urine (as a result of the riboflavin).

Suddenly discontinuing this supplement may rarely cause some individuals to feel achy, tired, and experience a headache, so it is suggested that should you decide to discontinue it, you change your dosing to every other day for a week before stopping.

Migrelief is not recommended for females who are pregnant or breast feeding, children under the age of two, people with kidney failure, or those who take potassium-sparing diuretics (such as spironolactone or amiloride).

There are four different formulations available. For those with migraines related to their menstrual cycle, there is Migrelief-M; for kids, there is Children’s Migrelief; and for adults with migraines unrelated to the menstrual cycle, there is Migrelief Original. Lastly, there is one fast-acting formula designed to be taken as needed at the first sign of discomfort.

To be perfectly honest, there’s not a lot of great science behind any of these products. Normally, we wouldn’t be comfortable coming to you with products where the vast majority of the literature available is produced by the manufacturer. However, the reality is that you’re not likely to get great trials on natural products due to the expense of running such trials and the inability to fully patent naturally-occurring substances.

Couple this with the fact that we now know that if you continue to take the usual headache tablets too frequently (such as Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, codeine and the rest of the opioids and many others), there is a strong chance you are going to wind up with a far worse headache syndrome eventually (along with possible liver, kidney, stomach and addiction issues).

These two products offer great alternatives where options are few and seem relatively safe (although we realize there have been no long-term safety studies on either). If headache experts are recommending them, then perhaps we shall bow to their far greater expertise in this area.

For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/?fref=ts