Cause of a Migraine – Migraines and Depression

Could depression be a cause of a migraine or is it the case that suffering from migraines is the cause of depression? People who suffer from migraine headaches are five times more likely to develop clinical depression than those who do not. On the other hand those who suffer from depression are three times more likely to become migraine sufferers.

This intertwining of depression and migraine is viewed by many scientists as a chicken and egg situation. Which came first? The two are obviously co-morbid but does one really cause the other and if so which one? There is no simple answer. Migraine, depression and not surprisingly insomnia, which is associated with both these conditions, have in common that they are all associated with neurotransmitter, or serotonin, deficiencies in the brain.

Depression and migraine headaches are thought by doctors to be related even though they both have clear causes with related neurobiology. For many years doctors thought the resultant loss of quality of life experienced by migraine sufferers was a result of depression brought on by the debilitating effect of the headaches. The link now between the two is thought to be a shared biological mechanism as opposed to psychological.

There is a potential danger for migraine sufferers afflicted with depression in that there may be adverse drug interactions between the migraine and depression medications. The FDA acknowledged one such danger in 2006. Mixing triptans for migraines with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) used in the treatment of depression and other mood disorders may result in a condition called serotonin syndrome.

This syndrome comes about because of excess serotonin in the body. This can produce symptoms such as hallucinations, raised heart rate, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure and stomach upsets. Taking these medications together is obviously not wise however there will be times when there is no option other than to use them together but it is important to bear in mind the possibility of serotonin syndrome occurring in these circumstances.

Your cause of migraine may not be depression just as migraines may not be the cause of your depression as there are many other triggers that can set a headache off. For more information on the cause of migraine visit http://www.causeofmigraine.org.