Are Migraine Supplements Safe During Pregnancy? What You Need to Know

Pregnancy has its fair share of surprises, but a migraine? Hard pass! Your head is throbbing, the lights are suddenly too bright, and finding safe relief becomes your number one priority.

So, you start looking for options. Magnesium? Maybe. Riboflavin? Could be worth a try. CoQ10? You've heard about that one, too! 

But then comes the big question. Can you take these supplements while pregnant? Before adding anything to your daily routine, let's look at what these supplements do and what you should know before trying them.

Which Migraine Supplements Should You Know About?

1. Magnesium

Magnesium does a lot of little jobs in your body, from keeping your nerves working to helping your muscles do their thing. It's also been studied for migraine prevention, so you'll probably come across it while looking for ways to deal with those pesky headaches.

But hold on before buying magnesium tablets for migraine. The amount used to help prevent migraines may be different from what your body needs every day. Pregnancy also means you need to be a little more careful about what you take.

Here are a few things to check first.

• The prenatal vitamins you’re taking might already contain magnesium.

• The dosage matters because too much of this is not good (especially when you’re pregnant), as it can cause diarrhoea and stomach upset. 

• Your health history matters. Or if you have kidney problems, some supplements can affect whether magnesium supplements are right for you.

2. Riboflavin

Riboflavin is another name for vitamin B2. Your body uses it to turn food into energy, and researchers have also studied it for migraine prevention.

You might see riboflavin for migraines recommended online, but there's something to keep in mind. Research showing that it may help prevent migraines in adults doesn't automatically mean that high doses are safe during pregnancy.

You can get vitamin B2 from foods such as milk, eggs, and fortified cereals. It's also found in many prenatal vitamins.

Just know that before you add riboflavin supplements, do consult with your health provider. They can look at how much you're already getting and tell you if you need more. Taking an extra supplement without checking could mean you're getting more than you need.

3. CoQ10

CoQ10 helps your body produce energy, and you can find it in supplement form, too. It's been studied as a possible way to prevent migraines, which explains why it pops up in so many migraine-related searches.

But just because you've read promising things about CoQ10 for migraines doesn't mean it's automatically a good choice during pregnancy. Researchers still don't have enough information about its safety for pregnant women, so don't add it to your routine without medical advice.

And don't stop at the big words on the front of the bottle! Check the other ingredients, too. If you're unsure about a product, show its label to your GP or obstetrician before taking it.

What About Other Supplements?

A little more searching for supplements for migraine relief in the UK might bring up names like vitamin D, omega-3, melatonin, and feverfew. You've probably seen some of these mentioned online, too. But finding a supplement that's useful for one reason isn't automatically a good choice for managing migraines while you're pregnant.

• Vitamin D has a role to play during pregnancy, and oily fish is one way to get omega-3 into your diet. Both are worth knowing about, but neither has been proven to keep pregnancy migraines at bay.
• Melatonin is another one you might come across, especially if sleep has been all over the place. But its safety during pregnancy is still unclear, so it's not something to start taking on your own. And feverfew? Despite its natural roots and reputation for migraines, it's best avoided during pregnancy.

So, before your supplement shelf starts looking like a mini pharmacy, have a word with your GP or maternity team. At MiraSoothe, we'd rather you feel comfortable with the choices you're making than feel tempted to try every new supplement that catches your eye.

Before You Try a Migraine Supplement

Choosing a supplement can get confusing fast. One bottle has a few ingredients, another has a whole list, and both claim to help with migraines! So, before adding anything to your routine, here's what to check.

 

One more thing: Don't assume all the herbal supplements are safe just because they're made from plants. Always check with your healthcare provider before taking any new supplement.

When Should You Get Medical Help?

Some symptoms need prompt medical care, so it's helpful to know what to look out for.

• Contact your maternity team or seek urgent medical help if you experience:
• A sudden, very severe headache that starts quickly.
• Vision changes, such as blurred vision or flashing lights.
• Sudden weakness or confusion.
• A fever along with a stiff neck.
• A headache with pain in your upper stomach or sudden swelling, especially if you also have vision changes or high blood pressure.

So, What's the Next Step?

Migraines are already an unwelcome guest during pregnancy. And adding a long list of supplements to your research to find out what’s safe or not doesn't exactly make life easier! 

Magnesium, riboflavin, and CoQ10- all three are sometimes used for migraine prevention, but your pregnancy calls for a little extra care before trying anything new.

At MiraSoothe, we offer a range of supplements for you to explore as you learn more about your options. We also know that pregnancy can make choosing the right products feel a little confusing. Before trying any new supplement, have a chat with your healthcare provider to find out what's suitable for you. You don't have to figure it all out on your own!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is riboflavin for migraines safe during pregnancy?

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is used for migraine prevention, and in studies involving adults, a daily dose of 400 mg has been linked to fewer migraine attacks. However, enough safety data for taking this high dose during pregnancy haven't been established.

2. Is vitamin B2 the same as riboflavin for migraines?

Yes, vitamin B2 and riboflavin are simply two names for the same nutrient! A 400 mg dose is provided in each MigraSoothe Original capsule, which is the amount studied for migraine prevention in adults. Fewer migraine attacks have been reported in some studies, although the safety of this high dose during pregnancy hasn't yet been established.

3. Are herbal migraine supplements safe during pregnancy?

Not all herbal ingredients have been studied enough during pregnancy, so their effects aren't always clearly known. There are supplements made with feverfew and ginger. Some concerns have been linked to feverfew's possible effects on uterine contractions, while more research is still needed on its use during pregnancy.

4. Do prenatal vitamins contain nutrients also found in migraine supplements?

Some of the same nutrients, including riboflavin (vitamin B2) and magnesium, can be found in both prenatal vitamins and migraine supplements. In MigraSoothe Original, 400 mg of riboflavin is provided in each capsule, a dose that has been studied for migraine prevention in adults. The quantities aren't always alike, as each formula is put together for a different nutritional purpose.

5. Can migraine supplements interact with medicines taken during pregnancy?

Different migraine supplements contain nutrients and other ingredients that have been studied for their individual properties. CoQ10, for instance, has been researched for migraine support, while feverfew and L-tryptophan have also been examined in relation to their effects in the body. Since L-tryptophan is included in MigraSoothe Pro, its potential interactions with certain serotonin-affecting medicines are worth knowing about when discussing supplement use alongside medication.