title: Dihydrotestosterone may contribute to the development of migraine headaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the possibility that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) may play a role in the etiology of some people's migraine headaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Finasteride 5 mg daily was given to a young woman with chronic migraines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chronic migraine headaches almost completely disappeared shortly following therapy. However, symptoms returned shortly after stopping the finasteride due to dry eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHT may be an etiologic factor in causing migraines since finasteride suppresses DHT secretion. Alternatively, the benefit could be related to some other property of finasteride possibly by increasing testosterone which may compete with estrogen at the blood vessel level.
authors: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Check
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013148:Spironolactone; D018120:Finasteride; D003913:Dextroamphetamine