---
title: What treatments help menstrual migraine and PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Several treatments have evidence including triptans, NSAIDs, magnesium, phytoestrogens, and certain birth control pills. More research is needed to compare tr
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-migraine-2012/
---

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- What treatments help menstrual migraine and PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2012

# What treatments help menstrual migraine and PMS symptoms?

Several treatments have evidence including triptans, NSAIDs, magnesium, phytoestrogens, and certain birth control pills. More research is needed to compare treatments.

 Moderate study design

Review of research on menstrual migraine and PMS (no new participants studied)

## What they did

This was a review article examining the relationship between menstrual migraine and PMS and summarizing treatment options from existing research, not a new original study.

## What they found

Migraine attacks often occur during the period of maximum PMS symptoms. Triptans are the gold standard for acute migraine treatment. For prevention, short-term perimenstrual prophylaxis can help. NSAIDs have evidence for menstrual migraine prevention. Among natural products, magnesium, phytoestrogens, and ginkgolide B have some evidence. A drospirenone-containing oral contraceptive taken continuously for 168 days showed promising results.

## What it means for you

Menstrual migraine and PMS often happen together around the same time in the menstrual cycle. Several treatments may help. However, this is a review summarizing other studies, not new evidence, so the quality of evidence for each treatment may vary.

pre-2 post-3

days around menses for migraine

168

days continuous contraceptive

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome and migraine Authors Allais G, Castagnoli Gabellari I, Burzio C et al. Journal Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology Year 2012 Study design Survey study What was tested Treatments reviewed: triptans, NSAIDs, magnesium, phytoestrogens, ginkgolide B, drospirenone contraceptive Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1054-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1054-5)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Ginkgo biloba](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ginkgo/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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