Open label trial of coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive

Cephalalgia. 2002 Mar;22(2):137-41. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00335.x.

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.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Ubiquinone
  • coenzyme Q10