TikTok Swears by This McDonald’s Headache Cure—but Is It the Real Deal? I Asked a Neurologist

Have you been on TikTok lately? No, not the rug-cleaning corner of social media—I’m talking about #foodtok. Users have been swearing by an unexpected cure for migraines and headaches, delivered via drive thru: fries and Coke from McDonald’s. With so many people hopping on the trend (and attesting that it’s for real), I went from skeptical to curious in just a few swipes.

Of course, one must scroll their For You page with a grain (or a few) of salt. To get to the bottom of things, I reached out to Dr. Regina Krel, M.D., a neurologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, for the facts. Read on for her take on the trend, as well as her tips for alleviating and preventing headaches and migraines.

Dr. Regina Krel, M.D., is director of the Headache Center at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center. She is the only neurologist in New Jersey to be fellowship trained, certified in headache medicine and a fellow of the American Headache Society. Dr. Krel specializes in headaches and facial pain, including migraine, cluster headaches, tension headaches, hypnic headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, occipital neuralgia and other various subtypes.

What Is the McDonald’s Migraine TikTok Trend?

Users are saying that the fast food chain’s fries and a Coke can cure a migraine. Technically, you can get the fries from anywhere, or swap in another type of full-sugar, caffeinated soda for the same effect, but Mickey D’s is arguably the gold standard. As silly (and tasty) as it sounds, Krel confirms that science does, in fact, back up the trend.

Why Does It Work (and Can It Be Tweaked)?

“Coke has caffeine, and we know that caffeine can sometimes help reduce migraine pain,” Krel says. “In fact, some pain relievers have caffeine in it. French fries, especially McDonald’s ones, have salt. Salt is an electrolyte, and sometimes electrolyte imbalances can trigger migraine attacks. Also, fries are a carb and sometimes patients tend to skip meals. That sugar drop can also be a potential migraine trigger, which is offset by eating this tasty treat,” Dr. Krel said.

So yeah, it works—or rather, it could work. “It’s important to understand that everyone with migraines suffers differently and the response to treatment is also very variable,” Krel notes. “While some migraine attacks may respond to this McDonald’s trick, it may not be a consistent response each time.”

Of course, it’s not the healthiest snack one could choose, given the high levels of sugar, sodium and fat it contains. Assuming some folks would want to substitute a diet soda, I asked Krel about sugar’s role in this DIY cure.

“Low sugar can potentially be a migraine trigger,” she shares. “Diet Coke has artificial sweetener which, for many migraine sufferers, can also trigger a migraine attack. [As for] caffeine, while caffeine may help stop an existing attack, too much caffeine can trigger one as well. In addition, caffeine withdrawal can also cause headaches.”

For a similar effect and healthier stats, she suggests electrolyte water for maximum hydration, or coffee for more caffeine minus the sugar. “If you haven’t eaten, then having a healthy, protein-rich snack that isn’t processed is a good option to boost sugar,” Krel adds.