Acupuncture Proves Better Than Common Medication for Migraines.

A recent study published in Cephalgia concluded that, Acupuncture treatments was significant better than that of the common pharmacological therapy of Topiramate (Maxalt). The researchers showed that, “A significantly larger decrease in the mean monthly number of moderate/severe headache days (primary end point) from 20.2 ± 1.5 days to 9.8 ± 2.8 days was observed in the acupuncture group compared with 19.8 ± 1.7 days to 12.0 ± 4.1 days in the topiramate group (p < .01) Significant differences favoring acupuncture were also observed for all secondary efficacy variables. These significant differences still existed when we focused on those patients who were overusing acute medication. Adverse events occurred in 6% of acupuncture group and 66% of topiramate group” (Yang). What this tells us is that the Acupuncture group had a decrease of headache days on average of 11 less days of headache compared to the Maxalt group which had a decrease of only 7 days.
Acupuncture has no known side effects from treatment if performed correctly. Maxalt has the following list of potential side effects: Serious Reactions including coronary vasospasm, myocardial ischemia, MI, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, arrhythmias, life-threatening, HTN, severe hypertensive crisis, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, peripheral vascular ischemia, intestinal ischemia and serotonin syndrome.
Common Reactions: dizziness, somnolence, asthenia, fatigue, nausea, paresthesias, chest pain/pressure/tightness, jaw pain/pressure/tightness, neck pain/pressure/tightness and dry mouth.
Acupuncture may not work for you but the research states that it is clearly worth the try. Our philosophy is that you should try everything until you find what works best for you. Given the long list of potential and common side effects of Maxalt it seems logical to try Acupuncture first. What I suggest to people is that they give it a try along with lifestyle change for 2-4 weeks and see how they are feeling.
References:
Yang, C-P.  Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Cephalalgia October 21, 2011