5 Best Probiotics For Migraines

Migraine is a widespread health issue, affecting as much as 17.1% of women and 5% of men in the USA alone. 

Though painkillers reduce headaches due to the repetitive nature of the issue, they also make you highly prone to side effects like vomiting, sedation, and dependence.

In this situation, safer OTC supplements like probiotics can help lower the severity of migraines and minimize migraine triggers like stress, insomnia, indigestion, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance.

Here are the 5 best probiotics for migraines that I’ve short-listed among the plethora of options available out there;

And if you are curious about which ones of these products would suit you best, here are tips I used (and you can also) to make sure a probiotic is good enough to be used for a specific type of migraine;

How I Selected The Best Probiotics for Migraines: 

Below are a few questions that I asked myself while selecting probiotics that could help with migraines

What if it makes the headache worse?

Firstly, make sure that your supplement won’t aggravate the headache. 

If you are lactose intolerant and the probiotic has whey residues, it would play against the purpose, likely increasing the headache instead of reliving it.

Similarly, look for other allergens like gluten, wheat, soy, and eggs.

The most important consideration here is to ensure you are not histamine intolerant because that is one of the few cases when someone should not use probiotics.

Probiotics produce histamine and other amines in microbial metabolism, and if your nervous system cannot handle these derivatives, your migraine will likely worsen by using probiotics.

Is it a Multi-strain Probiotic Supplement? 

Go for the multi-strain supplements because different microbes produce different secretions and affect the gut-brain axis and nervous system in a similar but slightly different way. 

That’s why you get the best results by using a multi-strain product containing strains from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families, especially L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, B. adolescentis, and B. longum.

Research shows that multi-strain synbiotics reduce chronic migraine frequency by 40-45% and intensity by 29-31%. 

Biotics 8 and Probullin Mood probiotics are good examples of multi-strain probiotics for migraine.

Does it have a high CFU Count? 

A high CFU count offers the quickest relief because more friendly bacteria in the gut ultimately lead to higher serotonin secretion. And higher serotonin levels lower the chances of cognitive stress and migraines. 

A product with 1-10 billion CFUs is potent enough to make a difference, and higher is even better.

Does the Probiotic Supplement come with Useful Additives?

Prebiotics and Vitamins go hand in hand with probiotics because vitamin supplementation covers up for the common deficiencies observed during migraines.

For example, vitamin D deficiency is often reported in migraine patients. Prebiotics are necessary for the nourishment and successful colonization of the probiotic microbes in the gut.

What are my Storage Options?

Checking the storage requirements is important because some probiotics must be refrigerated, so, carrying them on the go would be difficult.

Such refrigerated probiotics are good for daily use and in cold regions, but you should go for shelf-stable products when traveling or if the temperature and humidity are high at your location.

5 Best Probiotics Supplements for Migraines

1. Biotics 8 – Best for Stress-related Migraines

CFU: 20 billion

Dosage: 3 capsules daily 

Probiotic Strains: 

• 7 Lactobacillus strains (L. casei, L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, L. longum, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus)
• 2 Bifidobacteria strains (B. longum, B. breve)
• Saccharomyces Boulardii

Prebiotics: Chicory root fiber

Form: HPMC target-release Capsules

Certifications: GMP-certified

Storage: No refrigeration required, can be stored at room temperature 

Cost: 

• $64.99 for 1 month supply
• $129.99 for 3 months’ supply
• $194.99 for 5 months’ supply

Biotics 8 is a 10-strain supplement containing bacterial and yeast probiotics. It has both high diversity and a high CFU number which makes it effective in helping with stress-related headaches. 

Neurobiology trials confirm that L. plantarum and B. longum enhances the secretion of neuroactive metabolites, relieving anxiety and stress-related symptoms like headaches.

Similarly, supplements containing a mixture of B. longum and L. rhamnosus strains and prebiotic fiber are known to increase serotonin levels in the frontal and middle parts of the brain.

In turn, high Serotonin levels reduce cognitive stress and the severity of headaches. 

Also, multiple strains produce various anti-inflammatory compounds that help with migraines by reducing inflammation around neural tissues.

On top of it, the brand has included Vitamin D, which is often recommended for relieving stress symptoms like headaches, lethargy, and anxiety. 

Pros: 

• Improves digestion 
• Relieve stress and headaches
• Allergen-free, acid-resistant tablets
• All natural and Vegan product

Cons: 

• Not available in local stores

Where to buy: 

• Available from the official website only, the price starts at $64.99, and you can also avail the bundle discounts.
• Shipping is free on all orders
• Also, it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee

2. Yourbiology Gut+ – Best for Menstrual Migraines

CFU: 40 billion CFUs

Dosage: 2 capsules daily

Probiotics Strains: 

• 3 Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei)
• Bifidobacterium lactis

Prebiotics: Fructo-oligosaccharide

Form: MAKtrek Bipass Capsules derived from Brown Seaweed

Certifications: GMP-certified

Storage: No refrigeration required, stable at room temperature

Cost: 

• $64.99 for 1 month supply
• $129.99 for 3 month’s supply
• $194.99 for 5 month’s supply

Strains for Yourbiology Gut+ are selected, keeping female health in mind. Thus, it has more of the Lactobacillus strains that keep the vagina and uterus free from inflammation.

And an infection-free vagina and uterus help in getting rid of menstrual headaches.

However, the strongest effect of probiotics for menstrual headaches relates to their ability to alter the production of sex hormones.

Probiotics help maintain a good balance between the sex hormones as the concentration of different hormones changes during the menstrual cycle. As a result, the changes occur gradually, and you feel less menstrual anxiety and headaches.

According to research, Lactobacillus bacteria also effectively reduce the intensity of abdominal pain during menstruation.

Similarly, Bifidobacterium lactis is known to maintain the optimal level of FSH and LH, both during menstruation and pregnancy.

To make sure all these great components reach the intestines safely, the brand uses MAKtrek enteric capsules made from Brown Seaweed. That is why its survival rate is 250 times higher than most probiotics.

Pros: 

• Caters to female health 
• High CFU number for best results
• Improves hormonal balance
• Relives gut, vaginal, and uterus inflammation

Cons: 

• Cannot be bought from local stores

Where to buy: 

• From Yourbiology’s official website, the price starts at $64.99.
• Shipping is free on all orders.
• 60-day money-back guarantee

3. Culturelle Kids Purely Probiotics Packets – Best Probiotics For Migraines In Children

CFU: 5 billion

Dosage: 

• 1 packet daily
• mix in cool food and drinks like yogurt or smoothies

Probiotics Strains: 

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)

Prebiotics: None

Form: Probiotic powder in single-serve sachets

Certifications: N/A

Storage: Shelf-stable

Cost: 

• 30-sachet pack; $20.99 on a one-time purchase and $18.89 with a subscription
• 50-sachet pack; $28.99 on a one-time purchase and $26.09 with a subscription

Culturelle, the big name in the probiotics industry, produces supplements tailored for different individuals according to their needs and choices. 

Their probiotic powder offers an easy way to add probiotics to your kid’s diet by mixing the powder with food.

This supplement helps cure both migraine headaches and abdominal migraines in children.

L. rhamnosus GG enhances anti-inflammatory cytokines and releases oxidative stress. Both these factors contribute to higher resistance against headaches, especially frontal migraines.

Clinical trial on children’s neurology confirms that taking probiotic sachets significantly reduced the severity and frequency of migraines in kids 6 to 15. Probiotics effectively reduce the need for painkillers to treat severe headaches.

Also, LGG is an active participant in the gut microbiome and is very effective against indigestion and gut issues like nausea, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and belly pain in kids.

Pros: 

• Easy to take probiotics for kids
• Prevents gut troubles and migraines
• Improves immunity
• Free from dairy, wheat, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts

Cons: 

• Lacks diversity, 1 strain only

Where to buy: 

• From Culturelle’s official website.
• Without a subscription, the small pack (30 pills) for $20.99 and the larger pack (50 pills) for $28.99. Discount available with a subscription.
• Also available at Amazon, Walmart, CVS, Target, and local stores.

4. Optibac Probiotics For Pregnancy – Best For Migraines During Pregnancy

CFU: 12 billion 

Dosage: 1 pill daily with breakfast

Probiotics Strains: 

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001
• Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14
• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019

Prebiotics: Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) fiber

Form: Capsules

Certifications: N/A

Storage: The sealed jar does not need refrigeration. After opening, refrigerate and keep the desiccant sachet intact.

Cost: $24.99

Headaches are common during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Hormonal changes and gut discomfort are usually the key reasons behind pregnancy headaches. 

Fortunately, probiotics can help you with both these reasons, and Optibac Pregnancy Probiotics are best for expecting mothers.

This triple-strain supplement has 2 Lactobacillus and 1 Bifidobacterium strain.

B. lactis is a bacterial species scientifically known to improve the hormonal balance. Especially it regulates the concentration of FSH and LH, key hormones required to initiate and support pregnancy during the initial phase.

Lactobacillus strains are effective against inflammatory and stress-causing substances. 

Besides the microbial content, Optibac probiotics also have prebiotic oligosaccharide fiber to ensure the microbes get proper nourishment until they are colonized in the gut microbiome.

Pros: 

• For expecting and breastfeeding mothers
• Improves hormonal balance in pregnancy
• Reduces Pregnancy gut issues
• Helps with pregnancy-related anxiety 

Cons: 

• Only 3 strains, low diversity
• Free shipping is only available on orders above $100

Where to buy: 

• From the Optibac website, the price starts at $24.99 but a 10% discount available with a subscription
• From Amazon and other online stores
• Also available at local pharmacies and grocery shops

5. Pendulum Glucose Control – Best For Migraines in Diabetics

CFU: 2 billion

Dosage: 2 capsules daily

Probiotics Strains: 

• Akkermansia muciniphila 
• Clostridium beijerinckii 
• Anerobutyricum hallii 
• Clostridium butyricum
• Bifidobacterium infantis

Form: acid-resistant, delayed-release capsule

Prebiotics: Chicory Inulin

Certifications: 

• Formulated by a team of microbiology researchers
• Tested in clinical trials
• Non-GMO verified

Storage: Shelf-stable

Cost: 

• $215.00 on the one-time purchase
• $165.00 with membership

Diabetic headaches can occur when the blood glucose concentration remains constantly high or low. 

Thus, to treat migraines associated with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, only using stress-relieving medicines won’t prove highly effective. Instead, you must normalize the blood sugar level first.

A team of microbiologists at Pendulumlife has formulated Glucose Control Probiotics, especially for diabetics. It helps you manage blood glucose levels and associated symptoms like stress and headaches.

Its Clostridium strains make up for the natural gut microbes that are killed due to high glucose levels.

Also, Clostridium strains and Anerobutyricum hallii are active butyrate producers. 

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is known for multiple health benefits, including decreased insulin resistance, sleep enhancement, anti-inflammatory/ anti-oxidative effects, cancer resistance, and gut health improvement.

Many of these factors, in turn, contribute to headache reduction in migraine patients.

Then the supplement includes chicory root fiber to feed probiotics and make sure they become a part of your natural microbiome.

Hence, if you have type 2 diabetes and suffer from migraines, anxiety, and prolonged inflammation due to beyond-limit glucose levels, Pendulum Glucose Control is a good probiotic tool to help you manage your blood sugar well.

Pros: 

• Relieves diabetic migraines
• Helps in blood glucose management
• Cures gut disorders
• Reduces inflammation

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Currently available outside the US and Canada

Where to buy: 

• From Pendulum’s official website, the price is $215 for a one-time purchase and $165 for a subscription.

FAQs

Are probiotics migraine triggers?

The answer is usually no because probiotics improve resistance against headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.

However, the scenario can be the opposite for histamine-sensitive individuals. These people may get migraines using a probiotic supplement, as microbes produce amines as metabolic by-products.

Can probiotics help with migraines?

Yes, probiotics can help with migraines by increasing the secretion of serotonin in the intestines. Serotonin (also known as the happy hormone), in turn, relaxes the mind and relieves anxiety, and helps you sleep better.

And low-stress levels and good sleep are both effective against migraines.

Do probiotics help with headaches?

Yes, probiotics help with headaches. 

(I have shared details regarding the efficacy of different strains and the most effective products in the above reviews)