Doctors issue warning over viral McDonald's hack claimed to 'cure' migraines

Daily Mail​

a day ago

A viral TikTok trend claiming a large Coke and fries from McDonald's can cure a migraine has divided doctors—with some warning it may do more harm than good.
The so-called 'McMigraine Meal' went mainstream in May when US neurologist Dr Jessica Lowe described it as a 'miraculous' fix in a video that has since racked up almost 10million views
In the clip, first reported by MailOnline, Dr Lowe—who suffers from chronic migraines herself—told followers: 'The order is a large Coke and a large fries. And this somehow miraculously makes your migraine go away.'
Coke contains caffeine—roughly 10mg per 100ml—which works by constricting blood vessels and blocking pain signals in the brain, and reducing inflammation.
Fries, meanwhile, deliver filling carbohydrates, adds Dr Lowe: 'A lot of people have migraines that are provoked by hunger—those carbs are certainly gonna help out in that department.'
Since then, social media has been flooded with similar posts from migraine sufferers swearing by the fast-food fix.
One TikTok user wrote simply: 'It works,' after trying the combo following a 48-hour headache.
But while the trend continues to gain traction, doctors have urged caution—warning that the hack may offer only short-term relief and could actually trigger migraines in some people.
Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and Medical Director at Midland Health, said: 'A reason why the McDonald's trick seems to work is that a large Coke at McDonald's contains... caffeine, which has long been used to lessen migraine symptoms.'
She added: 'The stimulant helps to reduce inflammation, decreases the pressure on the brain, increases the benefits of pain relief like ibuprofen, and can provide a brief respite from migraines for those who don't consume it regularly.'
However she warned that, while the hack may stop the early stages of migraine pain, it may not be worth it in the long run.
'Caffeine is a very common headache trigger,' she warned, adding that those who consume large amounts regularly can suffer worse headaches.
She concluded: 'Opting for fast food as a quick fix to solve your migraine problems is also unlikely to produce any long-lasting benefits.'
Migraine is a complex neurological condition that causes intense, often throbbing head pain—usually on one side.
Other symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances.
Unlike a common headache, an attack can last for hours or even days and often leaves sufferers unable to function.
The exact cause isn't fully understood, but it's thought to involve abnormal brain activity affecting nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels.
Triggers can include stress, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, certain foods, dehydration, and even weather changes.
Migraines affect around 10 million people in the UK, and an estimated 39 million in the US. Women are up to three times more likely to suffer than men.
Several chronic migraine sufferers told the BBC they had tried the cola-and-fries remedy—with mild success.
Nick Cook, from Oxfordshire, said he carries 'a wallet full of drugs' and is willing to 'try anything' to manage the condition.
'When you live with the condition, and you're working a five-day week and you need to carry on, you'll give anything a go,' he told the BBC.
He said Coke can occasionally help—but only if he acts fast.
'If I catch it soon enough it can sometimes work, when my vision goes fuzzy and I can feel one coming on.'
He said it doesn't replace his prescription amitriptyline, but helps him 'last until the end of the day'.
Kayleigh Webster, 27, who has had migraines since childhood, believes it's the salt on the fries that seems to offer the biggest benefit.
'It can help,' she told the BBC. 'But it's certainly not a cure.'
The only treatment that's brought her lasting relief is medical Botox—a course of injections to her head, face and neck to block pain signals at the nerve endings.
Dr Kay Kennis, a GP specialising in migraine and a trustee of The Migraine Trust, said there's some logic behind the McDonald's fix—but also warned against regular use.
She said: 'There are some painkillers that people take for migraines that have caffeine—and some do respond well to that—but we don't fully know why.
'[But] too much caffeine can be a trigger too—and you can end up in a worse situation in the long run.'
Processed food is more concerning, she added, since it can contain tyramine—a compound known to trigger attacks.
Professor Peter Goadsby, a neurologist at the NIHR-King's Clinical Research Facility, said research into new treatments like gepants—drugs which block pain receptors before a full-blown attack develops—is offering hope after years of limited innovation.
Prof Goadsby warned against relying on TikTok trends: 'You want to have regularity, avoid the highs and lows.
'If you can feel the warning signs [of an attack]—yawning, sleepiness, mood change, passing more urine and even craving salt and sugar—listen to your body.'
Experts agree that the timing of migraine medication is crucial—and taking it at the first sign of symptoms is far more effective than waiting for the headache to take hold.
This is especially true for triptans, a class of drugs commonly prescribed to treat migraine attacks.
These medications work by narrowing swollen blood vessels in the brain and blocking pain signals—but only if taken early enough.
Research shows that taking triptans or pain relief within the first hour of symptoms—often during the 'aura' phase or at the first twinge of head pain—can reduce both the intensity and duration of the attack, and in many cases prevent it from escalating entirely.
Waiting too long can not only reduce the chances of full relief but also increase the likelihood of needing repeat doses or stronger medication later on.