How to Help Period Headaches?

My ob-gyn told me to take one Excedrin Migraine a day for the week leading up to my period, so the medicine would already be in my system in a low dose, then to use as directed while on my period if the pain persisted. That, and drinking plenty of water, really helped me deal before I got pregnant.

Excedrin migraine or Midol.
Also upping your intake of foods that contain estrogen will help as well.

The only thing that works for me is aspirin, a cup of strong coffee and a hot, wet washcloth over my eyes. Sometimes I'll add a hot shower to that mix. The pills that combine asprin and caffeine (excedrine, etc) don't do it for me.

This is not anything recommended by a doctor, just what I have found that works for me when the period headaches get really bad.

I used to have those the 12 hours before my period started and once it started - boom, headache went away. But a week - ugh!! I think it's something you should discuss with your OB/GYN. She might have an easy solution.

I'm going against the grain here: Eliminate caffeine from your diet.

Caffeine screws up your natural hormone cycles. So far this has worked very well for my mentrual migraines.

Does pain killer with caffeine (like Excedrin, Midol, etc.) help you? It helps some kinds of headaches but not all.

Oh, hormonal headaches are horrible. I get them with my period and had them terribly with 2 of my pregnancies. Nothing OTC helped. My doctor RX'd me a medication that helpls a lot. I only use it as needed. I also use a product from Badger called Headache Soother or something like that. I get it from Cracker Barrell of all places. Helps with the hormonal headaches and sinus issues. Good luck.

Do you crave salty foods before your periods?
I do, and it wreaks havoc with how well hydrated I am.
When I start craving salty things, I try not to give into it as much and I up my water intake.
It really helps keep the headaches to a manageable level.

I get these too, they are absolutely horrible. They're called menstrual migraines. Sometimes mine turn into full blown migraines and I am practically comatose all day. Not fun when I'm a SAHM. Mine used to last all week, but now they range from 1-4 days and most of the time they are painful and annoying but manageable. My gyne was no help at all so I went to see a neurologist. He told me to get off of my hormonal birth control (I was on the pill) because the headaches are coming from the estrogen fluctuations in your body and also because those hormonal BC are not really good for your body and the side effects are terrible. Anyway, he prescribed me Topomax to take the whole week of my period and Maxalt to take when I felt a really bad one coming on. They didn't work. He now has me on Imitrex (I get the generic) and then I take two Aleve with it. The Imitrex is supposed to stop the migraine and then the Aleve works to control any lingering pain for a few hours after. Well, I just tried it for the first time last week and it took my headache away!! However, the next morning it was back. : (( I'll see what happens next month.

Another thing I am thinking about...my husband works for a major healthcare company and one of the advising doctors that does work for the company told my husband that because the headaches are hormonal, a neurologist wouldn't be able to help me. I need to see an reproductive endocrinologist. If the medication the neurologist put me on doesn't help, my next step is to see the reproductive endo. Something to think about if yours persist.

Sorry this is so long but I've been getting these headaches for over 10 years now and they are literally taking over my life. Nothing I do or take has helped and I hate to hear of someone else suffering too. I hope you find relief.