The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 as a Prophylactic Treatment in Episodic Migraine

Abstract

Aim: Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring and often severe headaches. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in episodic migraine prophylaxis. Material and Methods: In a prospective follow-up study, 80 patients with episodic migraine were enrolled according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition and divided into two groups. One group consisted of 40 patients who received CoQ10 oral 200 mg twice daily as monotherapy for three months, while the other group consisted of 40 patients who received CoQ10 as an adjunct therapy in combination with other prophylactic antimigraine drugs. The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire was administered to both groups before and after three months of therapy. Throughout the three-month therapy period, patients recorded daily symptoms, allowing for observation of changes in symptom severity, number, and duration of attacks from baseline. Results: Both groups that received CoQ10 supplementation exhibited positive responses. The group receiving adjunct therapy showed a statistically more significant reduction in the MIDAS (p<0.001), duration (p<0.001), and frequency (p<0.001) of attacks compared to the monotherapy group. Vomiting (p<0.001) in the adjunct therapy group completely disappeared and sound sensitivity (p=0.002) showed a dramatic response to treatment. Conclusion: CoQ10 appears to have more beneficial effects as an adjunct than monotherapy in reducing the duration, frequency, and presenting symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity, in addition to sound sensitivity that responded only to adjunct therapy than monotherapy among Iraqi patients with episodic migraine.