So I’m wondering if the ingredients in certain whiskey might trigger a migraine.

My usual triggers are being tired and dehydration, and occasionally when the barometer drops I get migraines.

But twice in the last month, I had a drink of Jack Daniels gentle man jack. Literally only two shots, measured and added to some water. Both times I awoke with a migraine, same place as always, same symptoms...

I usually drink Tulamore DEW or Rowan creek and usually in small amounts, ie a double with water and then that’s it for drinking for the night. So I know it’s not that I’m drinking too much, cause I’m too old to get drunk and get loud anymore and my stroke history keeps my in line...

Anyone got any input?

ETA, I also had smoked pork those nights on both nights.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

I don't have a definitive answer for you. I don't suffer from migraine headaches but I am susceptible to ocular migraines and I find that eating foods, or drinks, that I am not used to having will bring on these ocular migraines. Fortunately these ocular migraines are painless.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
I don't have a definitive answer for you. I don't suffer from migraine headaches but I am susceptible to ocular migraines and I find that eating foods, or drinks, that I am not used to having will bring on these ocular migraines. Fortunately these ocular migraines are painless.

^^^^^
I'm the same way.

I don’t know about the effects of alcohol, but I used to get a migraine about twice a month. I started taking a magnesium/potassium supplement with dinner and I now only have one maybe once a year, if that.

I would say yes. I used to get cluster migraines pretty bad, now only on occasion. When I got them often, I could drink any kind of beer except Budwiser. I could fell perfectly fine, the one Bud and I was done.

Thanks power surge, I already take magnesium at night on the recommendation of my new primary physician. It has significantly reduced my migraines to maybe one a month..which is why two in successive weekends is disconcerting. The only other thing the same was the smoked meats we had on both weekends. Dunno. Just trying to figure it out.

I used to have terrible headaches coupled with nausea and unable to stand any amount of noise or light. I hated to do it, but the only thing that ever gave me any relief was forcing myself to throw up. An hour or so later I’d feel sooo much better.
I haven’t had one of those mind benders in years and have no idea why they stopped bothering me.

I’ve no doubt at all your migraines are related to something you eat/drink. I used to get horrible ones, ocular followed by the real deal with throwing up and all (which yes always made me feel better). My doc suggested I start keeping a food diary and I found that my trigger is aged cheese but very specifically Mozzarella cheese. Tough for a New Yorker who ate pizza almost daily but now that I avoid those cheeses, I do not get the headaches hardly ever. If I do, a couple Advil takes the edge off like it was a regular headache. For many folks, red wine can be a trigger.

I’m a chronic migraine sufferer and have had bouts where I had 15 migraine days in a month. I’m one of the unlucky ones with a complex trigger where 3 have to occur to get a migraine so I haven’t nailed down my trigger after 2 years of seeing a neurologist specializing in headaches.

From extensive reading and talking to doctors triggers can be stress, hormones, food, smell, etc. and combinations thereof. Food with a lot of preservatives (eg jerky) is on most lists. However, it’s highly individual so you need to try both the Jack and ribs (preparation identical) alone and with each other. If it’s one alone, you need to drive down to find the ingredient (eg nitrates in rib rub) that are the actual trigger then avoid that ingredient in everything.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

. However, it’s highly individual so you need to try both the Jack and ribs (preparation identical) alone and with each other. If it’s one alone, you need to drive down to find the ingredient (eg nitrates in rib rub) that are the actual trigger then avoid that ingredient in everything.

I’m at the point I’m gonna do just that, I’ve never had whiskey do it to me before, but I’ve also never had that particular brand in probably 30 years. Which is what got me to wondering about it...just not sure if I’m willing to risk a full on migraine to find out, ughhh..I really really don’t think it’s the smoked pork,as I eat smoked meats often.

Since my stroke I can’t take Zomig, which really worked for me- like, feel a migraine coming, take one tablet, thirty minutes later, back to life. I mean that stuff really worked, but it increases my BP so I can’t take it and now have to either knock myself out, or suffer thru one until I can’t see in one eye and can’t stand to hear even myself breathing...until I throw up and pass out until my brain rewires itself

I have migraines but I don’t drink so I can’t help with that. I’m still trying to figure mine out since my doctors can’t. The only common thing for me is fronts moving in and barometric pressure changes. The last several years I only had them in winter, that all changed this year.

Weather changes and caffeine get me. I know of others that are caused by aged cheese and red wine. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whiskey and/or smoked pork is a trigger. Try one without the other.

Trigger Point Therapy Workbook

I'm not sure where I first discovered this book, maybe here. Anyway my wife had regular migraines for a couple years following a car accident. She was a weather forecaster too in that she'd get a migraine any time we were about to get rain or a major temperature swing.

We started massaging the areas recommended by this book, either as the symptoms were starting or after it was full on, depending on how soon we got to it.

After about 20 minutes of massage and it was gone.
After about several months of massage treatment, the migraine frequency decreased and now she rarely gets them. Her arthritis still tells her when the weather is coming, but not the migraines.

When you feel one coming or if it's full blown, start massaging the back of your neck immediately left and/or right of your spine (depending on which side your headache is on). Massage the full length of your neck, but concentrate on the middle and just a bit above. If you feel knots (trigger points) concentrate on them.

Look for knots all around your shoulders and neck and massage them out and I bet you'll get some relief, regardless of the cause.

(I'm not a medical professional, so this is not medical advice.)


Cheers,
David S.

Lifelong migraine sufferer here. One of my triggers is foods with high salt content. A Navy Dr.told me it is the iodine in the salt that is a trigger. I imagine that pork is high in sodium. Just a thought.

Remove those for a year and see if it gets better.

My triggers are bad sleep, not eating regularly or well.

Thankfully I get a decent 'heads up' from my body that one is potentially coming and I can take steps to stop it - basically eat something and go to sleep being the primary fixes.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MikeinNC:
So I’m wondering if the ingredients in certain whiskey might trigger a migraine. [QUOTE]
There is a lot of good advice given so far about triggers and finding / avoiding them. Nitrates / nitrites in meat or seasonings is a high percentage offender, although conjuners in whiskey from the aging process are also possible. I'd bet on the rub used on the meat. It would be a shame if the Gentleman Jack were the offending agent, but if so, I'll be happy to dispose of it for you.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
I am susceptible to ocular migraines ....

Not to veer off topic, but thanks for mentioning that. It prompted me to research what I sometimes get, which is, according to one article, “visual” migraines. I get them at very irregular intervals and have no idea what triggers them.

I get migraines pretty often now used to be a few per year if that now it seems like every other week or month.

For me it's not food or drinks that cause them so I'm ok on that front.

But I've known for years certain things can trigger one.


For example: Staring at the TV or Movie Screen too long, maybe eye strain so no more big marathons. Too much time in front of a screen playing video games, not a issue anymore since I don't play games anymore or have the time to. Big one is lack of sleep, I go to bed late and sometimes don't get enough hours of sleep and have to get up for work and bam I'm screwed. The last one is the probably the one always gives me the most problems is eating on time per my daily schedule. I don't snack and usually skip breakfast and if I don't eat with in 30 mins to 1 hour of when I normally eat it can easily bring one on. So if something comes up and can't eat a proper meal on time it's a problem.

Many of years did I suffer and pain meds use to help but within the last year I told my regular doctor and he prescribed me sumatriptan that stuff works miracles. One pill and with in 30 mins a migraine is gone or is down to a normal headache and I can function the rest of the day. Their were days I had to go home from work early because I'm vomiting and practically passing out and need to sleep it off.

With sumatriptan even a mild headache is gone. Wish I new about it much sooner, only thing is you can't take them daily or too often or it can cause headaches. But when you have a bad one they are god send. Luckily I don't suffer from any symtons when taking one but it's best to take it before it's full blown for it to work faster.

I can't speak to Jack Daniels as a trigger , but I am sure that most types of beer as well as all types of wine will trigger a migraine for me.
I have found that I can get away with having a Dos Eqies ( sp ??) or a Corona. I don't know why I can get away with these Mexican beers.... For me , it's usually easier just to skip booze altogether. Not worth the risk of a headache.
Sleep deprivation is a strong trigger for me also. mike

PS: Sumatriptan is my friend ,too !!

There is a migraine sufferer diet. Look into it