Open label trial of coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive.

Abstract

The objective was to assess the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 as a preventive treatment for migraine headaches. Thirty-two patients (26 women, 6 men) with a history of episodic migraine with or without aura were treated with coenzyme Q10 at a dose of 150 mg per day. Thirty-one of 32 patients completed the study; 61.3% of patients had a greater than 50% reduction in number of days with migraine headache. The average number of days with migraine during the baseline period was 7.34 and this decreased to 2.95 after 3 months of therapy, which was a statistically significant response (P < 0.0001). Mean reduction in migraine frequency after 1 month of treatment was 13.1% and this increased to 55.3% by the end of 3 months. Mean migraine attack frequency was 4.85 during the baseline period and this decreased to 2.81 attacks by the end of the study period, which was a statistically significant response (P < 0.001). There were no side-effects noted with coenzyme Q10. From this open label investigation coenzyme Q10 appears to be a good migraine preventive. Placebo-controlled trials are now necessary to determine the true efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prevention.

• Authors: T D Rozen, M L Oshinsky, C A Gebeline, K C Bradley, W B Young, A L Shechter, S D Silberstein
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 137-41 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 0333-1024 [Print] England
• PMID: 11972582 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Coenzymes
• Ubiquinone
• coenzyme Q10

Topics

• Adult
• Coenzymes
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Medical Records
• Migraine Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Time Factors
• Ubiquinone (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)