Migraine/IBS link?

[Pippwin]

Does anyone else experience a worsening of IBS when their Migraine headaches are in a better phase? All my life it seems that I either have one or the other in a bad state. I would rather be in an IBS phase than a migraine phase, but either is very disabling! Lately I have started on Flunarazine ( a calcium channel blocker) for migraine prevention which is helping in that the migraines are less severe and easier to treat. However my IBS is awful and I told the neurologist who said that IBS symptoms are not exacerbated by flunarazine...so just wondering what is going on?

[Gambit62]

Have you had your B12 levels checked? The most common cause of non-dietary B12 deficiency (ie not excluding B12 from your diet by being a vegan) is an autoimmune disorder of the gut - which reduces stomach acidity leading to symptoms that fall into the label IBS. It also leads to B12 deficiency, symptoms of which include migraine like headaches. This is probably because the migraine mechanism can affect the vagus nerve which runs down the body and plays a part in regulating the gut. It may be that the medication you are taking is dealing with more common symptoms of the migraine but now you are noticing those symptoms that are not so clearly associated more.

[Pippwin in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you! That is really interesting...I had a blood screen a couple of weeks ago and have had a message from the doc to see her on Wednesday because of anaemia (and high cholesterol) so I wonder if the anaemia is b12 deficiency? I looked at the other symptoms and one of them is a sallow skin which I have also noticed recently. I shall ask and make sure this is looked at. My sisiter, daughters and my nephew have IBS, have suffered a lot with mouth ulcers and my nephew has problems with muscle weakness. So I shall talk with them too! Many thanks again, Pippa

[Gambit62 in reply to Pippwin]

There are different types of anaemia - the type particularly associated with B12 deficiency is macrocytic (larger rounder red blood cells). The type associated with iron deficiency is microcytic (smaller red blood cells). Unfortunately PA can also affect iron absorption and it is possible to have both types of anaemia at the same time with one masking the other.It does sound as if your family may be prone to PA (often runs in families) but it is also very difficult to diagnose and symptoms overlap with a number of other conditions

There is a forum sponsored by the PAS on HU

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Pippwin in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks so much. That is very helpful, I will pursue this!

[Cat00]

I have a very similar experience. I go through phases like this too, one or other. When I started Ajovy, the CGRP injector my IBS was terrible for a couple of months. Like you my neurologist didn't think they were linked. I wondered if maybe bc my migraines had reduced so much maybe it just gave me time to focus on the IBS but I didn't have the same when Botox worked well so who knows?! My IBS has settled down now comparatively.

[Pippwin in reply to Cat00]

I think we should mention this again to our neurologists. My IBS is definitely dramatically worse, coinciding with starting the flunarazine. Thanks, Cat.

[Cat00 in reply to Pippwin]

Yes it felt linked to me at the time, I think in time it may be listed as one of the side effects. I should look up American sites as they've been using the CGRP meds for years now.

[Pippwin in reply to Cat00]

Are you in the UK or USA..It is tiresome how long NICE takes to approve these new drugs, and I'm aware of the costs. Do you know if we have the new acute medicines available in the UK yet? The gepants and ditons. My neuro said once I needed to tackle my usage of triptans ( same old story..) before I'm 65 because GP may not want to prescribe with risks of cardiovascular disease.

[Cat00 in reply to Pippwin]

I'm in the UK. I haven't been given access to anything other than triptans which unfortunately don't really work on me anymore. I've only vaguely heard of the newer acute meds I think on the Heads Up podcast. I don't know if NICE have approved any of them yet. The triptans only ever worked half the time for me anyway and I was only allowed 8 a month so most of my migraines I had nothing for but now I'd say the triptans only work a quarter of the time. It's a shame bc the CGRP has worked really well, if the triptans were working I would be almost headache free. My mother is still given Triptans and she is 75 but that is bc her heart is strong and there is no history of cardiovascular disease in the family.

[Gary336]

I have not been particularly aware of my IBS symptoms increasing during periods of migraine remission. I do recall having a couple of very bad bouts of IBS over the last few years and feeling grateful that I wasn't suffering from migraines at the same time. Maybe I should pay more attention to the patterns.My neurologist told me that there is a theory linking IBS and migraines, and I believe that some research in Newcastle (UK) is looking at IBS as a possible early indicator of migraine susceptibility.

[Pippwin in reply to Gary336]

Thanks Gary. Yes I have heard that children sometimes get " stomach migraine" which is like a bout of IBS. Iwill check out that research. All the best to you..Pippa

[troy04]

Flunarazine is not licenced in the UK for treating migraine and I never had it but it is similar to any other Calcium Channel Blockers which have side effects listed: Constipation / Diarrhoea / Nausea / Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). So it is a possibility for Flunarizine to aggravate IBS because of these but there is no direct causal link clinically established between IBS and Calcium Channel Blockers so far.

[Pippwin]

I actually said that to my neurologist and he said, maybe constipation, but there shouldn't be other gastric side effects. I'm sure you are right!

[Chleo11]

Hi Pippwin. I can only laugh when I hear a doctor saying that IBS can't be exacerbated by a medication. What a joke! Of course they all do, all medics mess up with your gut flora, not only antibiotics. Personally I can't even take any vitamin or herbal supplement without being as sick as a dog. The link between IBS and migraines has been well established for a while now. 30 years ago, doctors, gastro consultants, didn't even want to admit that there was such a thing as IBS. They think that it is the same process at play in migraines and IBS.

In relation to what you're saying it possible that, being the same process, one time it targets your tummy and the other time it targets your head.

Hope the medication works for you!

[Pippwin]

Thank you! I hope you stay as well as possible too.