HeadAid for Migraines

By Patricia Scripko, MD

HeadAid is a company developed by Harvard-trained neurologist and migraineur, Dr. Patricia Scripko. It arose from Dr. Scripko’s desire for an evidence-based, compounded nutraceutical product for the prevention of migraine that utilized melatonin’s benefits, as well as a compounded nutraceutical product for the cessation of a migraine attack when it occurs.  She is not only the scientific advisor for HeadAid but also a consumer.

HeadAid currently offers three products that all come in convenient, effervescent, stick packs: a daily preventive, a fast-acting daytime version, and a fast-acting nighttime one.  All of the products were created so they could be used together, alone, and/or with typical over-the-counter or prescription migraine regimens. The rationale for each is described below.

HeadAid’s all-natural daily preventive product contains melatonin, magnesium, and CoEnzyme Q10. Dr. Scripko wanted to create a product free of butterbur, given reports of liver toxicity and poor regulation (http://anhinternational.org/2012/07/18/bye-bye-butterbur/). Melatonin was the perfect alternative because of its anti-inflammatory effects, its regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and its ability to reduce migraine frequency and intensity. The benefits of melatonin are still being studied, but many of them are thought to arise from its structural similarity to the strong Cox-2 inhibitor, indomethacin. Unlike NSAIDs such as indomethacin, melatonin does not carry cardiovascular risks and seems to be cardioprotective. Further, melatonin is much better tolerated from a gastrointestinal standpoint. There are studies showing melatonin’s efficacy in migraine, post-concussive syndrome, and Indocin-responsive headache disorders.

Magnesium was included in the daily product for its ability to help prevent migraine, a benefit that may be due to its excitotoxic-blocking effects via binding to the NMDA receptor. CoQ10 provides mitochondrial support that seems to suppress the “misfiring” that occurs in migraine. It has also been shown to provide prophylactic benefit and be well-tolerated.

HeadAid’s fast-acting products target the symptomatology of migraine. In the daytime version, caffeine reduces pain and brain fog while ginger addresses nausea and magnesium lessens headache pain and associated phono- and photophobia. Of note, despite ginger being commonplace in obstetrics for hyperemesis gravidum and in oncology for post-chemotherapy nausea, it has not been widely used for the same purpose in migraine, but it has marked benefit on the nausea and vomiting. Ginger also may serve an anti-inflammatory purpose and provide energy. The nighttime version also includes magnesium and ginger; but instead of caffeine, it contains 5-htp as an added pain suppressant and sleep aid and chamomile for its anti-inflammatory and sedating benefits.