100 Migraine drugs, A to Z: Alpha-lipoic acid

Alpha-lipoic acid is one of the natural supplements included in this list of 100 migraine drugs. According to a study by Magis and colleagues, a daily dose of 600 mg of alpha- lipoic acid (known as thioctic acid in some countries) was significantly better than placebo in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks, headache days and pain severity. No side effects were reported in this 44-patient study. However, some of my patients have complained of upset stomach, which is not surprising since it is an acid. This was a small study and it does not conclusively prove that alpha-lipoic acid relieves migraines.

The use of this supplement is most proven in the treatment of peripheral neuropathies, which suggests that it may work for other neurological conditions such as migraine. Alpha-lipoic is being investigated as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, strokes and other conditions.