Migraine headaches are more than just pain in the head. You know that if you are a regular migrant sufferer. The reality is that migraines are neurological events that can be quite debilitating. A serious migraine headache can bring your entire world to a screeching halt for hours at a time.
The throbbing pain of a typical migraine can be intense. Most sufferers also report sensitivity to light and sound. Some deal with aura and waves of nausea that only add to the unbearable nature of migraine. Here is the big question: is there a way to quickly relieve migraine symptoms without having to run to the emergency department? Perhaps. IV hydration and vitamin therapy is an option that seems to work for some.
It’s Best to Skip the Emergency Room
When a migraine headache becomes unbearable, the temptation to take a trip to the emergency room is significant. A patient simply wants relief. But it is often best to skip the emergency room because of its built-in drawbacks. For example, emergency rooms are known for their bright fluorescent lights. Most are noisy and very busy. Throw in long wait times and you could end up feeling worse than you would have had you simply stayed home.
If you do go to the emergency room, you’re likely to be given an IV drip. The drip contains a variety of substances design to help your body get back to normal. So how is IV hydration and vitamin therapy so different? It is not, really.
What IV Therapy Is
IV hydration and vitamin therapy is a therapy invented decades ago by Baltimore doctor John Meyers. According to Lone Star Pain Medicine in Weatherford, Texas, Dr. Meyers created a vitamin and mineral cocktail he used to treat his patients. Most clinics offering IV therapy in the 2020s, including Lone Star, utilize some version of Meyers’ cocktail.
At its core, the therapy is designed to replenish the body’s supply of essential vitamins and minerals. So a typical cocktail would include:
- Vitamin C.
- Vitamins B6 and B12.
- Thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.
- Calcium gluconate.
- Magnesium chloride.
Delivering the vitamins and minerals bypasses the gut. As a result, the therapy offers 100% bioavailability. In other words, the body can utilize all the vitamins and minerals because none have been lost to the digestive system.
How It Works for Migraine
Though most of the evidence in support of IV therapy is anecdotal, plenty of patients swear by its effectiveness. They say the therapy stops migraine in its tracks. Here’s how it works:
- Hydration – Dehydration is a common migraine trigger. So when the IV solution includes saline, the patients fluid balance is instantly restored. This can reduce the intensity of migraine pain.
- Magnesium – Magnesium is sometimes referred to as the ‘miracle mineral for migraines’ because of its ability to relax constricted blood vessels. When blood vessels are relaxed, pain is reduced. Magnesium can also block some of the pain signals.
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) – High doses of B vitamins can help stabilize some of the neurological misfiring that occurs in the brain during a migraine.
Typical cocktails also include ingredients designed to reduce inflammation and nausea. By settling the stomach and addressing inflammation, patients are better able to rest while the cocktail’s other ingredients do their job.
As a Preventative Treatment
Some migraine patients rely on IV therapy for quick relief of migraine symptoms. Others rely on it as a preventative treatment. By getting regular IV infusions, they hope to keep migraines to a minimum. Could it work for you? It is worth a try.
