Alexis Kilstrom, 36, always thought the terrible headaches she got in college were due to being hungover. But as she got older, she learned she was actually dealing with migraine attacks. Kilstrom regularly experiences episodes of excruciating pain on the right side of her head that spreads to her face, jaw, and neck, as well as nausea and light sensitivity. Her go-to for relief? An Execedrin with a side of Coca-Cola.
And it turns out the home remedy is pretty common among some folks with migraine, a neurological condition related to overactive nerves that can cause a variety of problems, including vomiting, severe headaches (of course), and even aura, which can lead to vision, motor, and speech problems. Dozens of TikToks show people taking sips of the bubbly beverage and sharing how much it helps soothe their symptoms. For Kilstrom, sometimes one slurp is all she needs to feel better, but other days she’ll gulp an entire bottle out of desperation. And if she’s out and about when head pain strikes, “I’m definitely stopping for a fountain Coke,” she says.
But does it actually work? We spoke with Shae Datta, MD, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health, to better understand why Coke may help people with the debilitating condition. Turns out there’s some real science behind this fizzy fix. Here’s what to know.
The caffeine in Coke is directly targeting your pain.
Caffeine is a stimulant that constricts blood vessels in your brain, Dr. Datta says, which alleviates head pain associated with swelling. It’s also thought to block the effects of a chemical called adenosine that increases during migraine attacks, according to the American Migraine Foundation. This is why caffeine is one of the main ingredients in several headache medications, including Excedrin, which contains about 130mg of it in a standard adult dose. Although a 12-oz can of Coke only has 34 to 46 mg of caffeine (about one-quarter the amount in a cup of coffee), the effects may still work in your favor, Dr. Datta says.
However, caffeine can be a double-edged sword. Some people find that caffeine—or the withdrawal from it—actually triggers their migraine attacks. How it affects you depends on how often you drink Coke, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages; the more often you drink them, the greater your tolerance for the stimulant will be. So even missing your morning coffee one day could put you into withdrawal territory and ultimately give you more headaches as a result. If you can relate, maybe try to avoid drinking Coke casually day-to-day, and save it for the times when a migraine sneaks up on you.
Hydrating is a good idea during a migraine attack.
Water will pretty much always be your best hydration option, but the truth is, any beverage can technically satisfy your H20 needs, at least in the short term. So yes, Coke—considering it’s literally 90% water—might help because it can hydrate you, Dr. Datta says. Experts speculate that your brain and other tissues contract as they lose water, which aggravates pain receptors in the lining around your brain.
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