Migraines

anyone having success using keto for migraines. If so what kind of success

Kale asked 6 years ago

- lisafern
- 6 years ago
- 1
Before I started eating Keto in Jan of 2017 I had migraines at least once every two weeks and lots of times once a week. When I didn’t have a migraine I almost always had a headache of some kind. Since we started this I have only had one migraine and my other headaches have come much less often as well. It has been a miracle for me. I didn’t expect this kind of blessing. I was primarily doing keto because I was afraid I was becoming diabetic and because I really badly needed to lose a lot of weight.I have also lost 52 lbs and have much less back and knee pain. My mood has improved, depression lifted, and blood pressure dropped. All the news is positive for me and my husband. We both have more weight to lose, but feel so much better we will continue to eat this way even if we do not lose any more weight. Blessings!

You must login to post comments

Answers (8)

I started eating keto to manage my epilepsy and a nice unexpected side effect is that it cured my migraines too. Nobody can call that a “placebo effect” because I had no idea that was even possible.

There is a lot of overlap between people who have epilepsy and people who get migraines. The two are closely related neurologically.

I know how debilitating migraines can be and I wish you well in your quest to get them out of your head.

AlohaBird answered 6 years ago

- AlohaBird
- 6 years ago
Which seizure med are you taking? Some can mess with your overall metabolism and all kinds of other side effects. I’ve gotten completely off of the Valproic Acid I used to take and now I’m only on Phenobarbitol but I am trying to wean off of that as well.
- Kale
- 6 years ago
Topomirate 100 mg
- AlohaBird
- 6 years ago
Hmm. I’ve never been on that one. This is what the Mayo clinic has to say about its side effects. http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/topiramate-oral-route/side-effects/DRG-20067047
- Kale
- 6 years ago
Yes!.. I’ve been on it for a long time and have had many side effects, but migraine pain is to intense without it. Hopeing going keto will allow me to wean off some medications:-)
- AlohaBird
- 6 years ago
I have been able to cut my meds in half since going keto. Whatever you do, go very slowly when weaning off these meds. They are very habit forming and a fast crash in your levels can make your symptoms come back with a vengeance. Find a doc who is on board with reducing the meds and get him/her to monitor your levels as you wean. I wish you well.

1 more comment
You must login to post comments

I used to have migraines / headaches pretty much every day. I started on a keto diet about a year ago after reading “My Migraine Miracle” by Dr Josh Turknett. I have found it very difficult to get into and to stay in ketosis. My ketostix stay stubbornly pink. But the health benefits of the diet have been great:

my migraines are almost gone – though keto alone hasn’t been enough for this. I also have to avoid the normal trigger foods (cheese, nuts, food containing preservatives – nitrates, nitrites, suphites…) and make sure I get regular sleep. Working late and then getting to sleep late is one of the worst triggers
my asthma is so much better that I rarely use an inhaler
my heartburn is gone
my energy levels are much better. The old lethargy that left me sitting around unable to work is hardly ever there
oh, and I have lost weight too

Julian

Julianh answered 6 years ago

You must login to post comments

Thanks for your comment Julian. The keto stix are often unreliable. Your body is a better gage of what’s going on. I recently had some general blood work done and my ketones came back high, where as the ketone stix weren’t really regerestering much at all. I’m giving the diet a real go, but keep slipping up every time I get a monster of a migraine:-(

Kale answered 6 years ago

You must login to post comments

I had severe migraines since 9 years old (now 65) lots of different medications, last being several years of Botox injections into key nerve points in my head & neck which worked very well but had to repeat every 4 months or so (expensive). I have been keto for 2 years and have had no migraines for at least the past 18 months – cannot remember last migraine and always could before (even when doing the botox). To me I really believe one of the side benefits of being Keto has been the fact I have had no migraines.

Murratte answered 5 years ago

You must login to post comments

I started Keto in May ’17 specifically to battle my migraines that I’ve had for 42 years. This WOE has literally been a lifesaver! I cannot believe all of the years of needless suffering. My migraine frequency is down 90 % and my medication intake is down 95%! On the very rare occasion that I do get a migraine (their duration and intensity if greatly reduced too) , I am reminded how happy I am that I found Keto. The LPN at my doctor’s office says that people do not understand how much sugar messes w/ your hormones. I think it’s a combination of that and the significant reduction in inflammation. At any rate, Keto has definitely worked for me, I’ve lost 23 pounds and I WILL NEVER go back to any other WOE!

I think every doctor w/ migraine patients should at a minimum, be recommending that people at least try Keto.

seaotter answered 5 years ago

You must login to post comments

Danielle had great success with using Keto to help her migraines. She wrote about it here:

https://ketosummit.com/ketogenic-diet-helps-migraines

Louise answered 5 years ago

You must login to post comments

I used to be a migraine sufferer and could count on a severe migraine at least once a month that would last for seversl days. I started eating a Ketogenic diet three months ago and have not had a migraine since and have lost 35 pounds as a bonus.