CPAP help with Migraines?

[engrdad]

Just curious if anyone has found that CPAP therapy has helped with migraine headaches?

The main reason that I am now on CPAP therapy is that my neurologist referred me as a potential cure/relief of migraine headaches. I have had these since my teenage years and none of the current medications (i.e. triptans, beta-blockers, etc...) seem to work. The only way I get any relief is through pain medication (hydrocodone). I am hoping that in addition to more energy and lower blood pressure that CPAP will help with the migraines as well.

[KansasRT]

I have had many patients that their main complaint was morning headaches. The process was then to do a noctournal oximetry and see that their oxygen level drops at night which leads to a sleep study and a CPAP machine. A lot of these patients struggle for a while getting used to the CPAP (like most people) and have to watch their data very closely because if their pressure needs go up, the headaches come back until we can get their pressure where it needs to be. That doesn't mean mess with your pressure every night until you don't have a migraine, but take it slow and easy. I suffer from migraine headaches as well and they are horrible. I also don't get any relief from any of the "normal" migraine treatments. I have a patient that puts on her CPAP as soon as she feels a migraine coming on and wears it for a while to help stop the headache. One treatment some have success with is oxygen therapy for migraines. So the CPAP makes sense because it would help keep your oxygen level up. I wish you the best!

[Wulfman]

Go up to the Search function and search on "migraine" or "migraines" or "headaches" and see what you get. You should find quite a few posts that indicate the PAP users experienced relief from them.

Den

[islander]

I had suffered with migraines for literally all my life until stumbling upon the need for CPAP. I must have ingested tens of thousands of Excedrin over the years, buying the very large bottles, 12 at a time and never leaving home without a good supply in my pocket. In recent years I had found Sumatriptan nasal spray did help in the short term and taking a beta blocker (Atenolol) did help, too. But, the very first night I tried CPAP, I was aware of a great improvement as I did not have a headache upon awakening. I have since (18 months) been 100% compliant and to this day I look forward to each night using my APAP...(have three, just in case....)
Anyway, in answer to your question, YES, there is the good possibility you will achieve marked relief from your migraine suffering using your CPAP equipment as prescribed and by using this forum as a "sounding board" with queations you may encounter.
PM me with any specific questions.
Mike

[NeedinZs]

I have found the CPAP has helped tremendously with my migraines!
I won't say I NEVER have them anymore, but I have cut my Imitrex usage from 3 or 4 a week! down to 1 to 2 a MONTH.

So, that is QUITE an improvement!
Really life changing, when I think about back about it.

I really hope CPAP will help you and your migraines, (and I believe it will). I just can't imagine what you go through when the migraine meds. don't work for you!

Best wishes!

[RosemaryB]

If cpap doesn't help, you might want to try a gluten free diet. I used to have up to 2 a day. After I went on a GF diet my migraines went away and have not returned except once when I was traveling and got exposed to gluten.

Sensitivity to gluten can cause more than celiac (digestive problems). For some people the main symptoms are neurological, including migraines, but also some other things. Google The Gluten File to see research on neuro problems. That website also gives good info on what blood tests to have to detect whether you have a problem with gluten.

A GF diet is not as easy as it sounds, in fact, it takes a number of lifestyle adjustments. However, the damage that gluten does is systemic, so it's worth it. Gluten Free Living for Dummies is a good book to start with if you want to find out more about how to go on this diet. I hope cpap works for you. It's much less complicated to deal with just sleeping. Both sleeping and eating is a bit much, in my experience. But hey, I feel great compared to how I used to feel, stumbling around sleep deprived with migraines .