Migraines can be disabling. If you have them frequently, talk with your doctor about preventive medicines. He or she may also suggest lifestyle changes and/or medicines to ease your symptoms when you do have an attack.
Keep a headache diary to identify possible triggers. Avoid foods, drinks and other things that seem to make your headaches worse.
Some people get migraines only rarely, while others suffer them several times a month. They can last from 4 to 72 hours and are usually worse on one side of the head. They’re often confused with sinus headaches, which are not the same and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medicines. The cause of a migraine is not fully understood, but it may be linked to changes in the brain’s activity. A spread pattern of electrical activity in the brain causes blood vessels to narrow and swell. This leads to inflammation and, ultimately, pain.
Many different things can trigger migraines. Loud noises, bright lights and strong smells can trigger them for some people. So can skipping meals or getting too much or too little sleep. Some medications — including oral contraceptives, aspirin, ibuprofen and vasodilators (such as those used to treat high blood pressure) — can also trigger them in some people. So can food additives, especially the artificial sweetener aspartame and monosodium glutamate, found in some processed foods. Changes in weather can be a trigger, too, particularly when they involve storms and barometric pressure. So can intense exercise or sex.
Family history is a significant factor in migraines, with four out of five people who have them having at least one relative who also gets them. Certain medical conditions can also raise your odds of getting them, including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, eating disorders like bulimia and binge-eating, sleep disorders and epilepsy.
Women are more likely to get migraines than men, and they can be triggered by hormones. Around 19% of women report that they get migraines around their menstrual cycles, while half get them more than once a week. Hormonal changes, like those caused by pregnancy, menopause, use of hormonal birth control and hormone replacement therapy, can trigger them, too. And some women have a family history of them, which could mean that their genes make them more likely to get them. That’s why it’s important to identify and avoid migraine triggers. Many doctors suggest keeping a migraine diary to track your symptoms and look for patterns.
Migraine pain is typically moderate to severe throbbing or pulsing head pain, usually on one side of the head but sometimes both sides. The pain can be dull or pounding, or it may feel like your head is being ripped apart. It can be triggered by light, sound, odors and certain medications, including ones used to treat headaches. Other symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to touch or pressure, changes in vision, dizziness or balance problems, weakness on one side of the body and a feeling of pins and needles. Migraines can last for a few hours to a few days, and are often disabling. They can make you stay home from work or other activities, and are more difficult to deal with than other headaches. Migraines are three times more common in women than men and can begin at any age, but they usually start during adolescence or early adulthood. They may fade away later in life, but they can also continue as a chronic daily headache, called a hemicrania continua, with continuous smoldering pain that occasionally flares into a full migraine attack.
Some migraines are accompanied by a visual warning sign called an aura. This involves changes in your vision that can include flashing lights, colors, a pattern of lines or shadows and/or blind spots. It may also cause weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body.
Other symptoms of a migraine can include drooping eyelids, redness in the eyes or mouth, nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes and nose, and/or a stuffy head. The pain can also affect the face, sinuses, jaw or neck and cause muscle twitching. In some cases, the migraine will involve a rash or abdominal pain.
If you’ve had a few attacks, keep track of when they happen. This will help your doctor to learn what triggers your migraines. You can do this by keeping a headache diary. Write down the dates and times of your attacks, what happens before, during and after them, and what relieves the pain. For example, if a light or noise triggers your migraines, you can note that you can usually get relief from taking a nap.
Unlike most headaches, which can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medicines, migraines are debilitating, recurrent headaches that cause moderate to severe throbbing head pain, often on one side of the head. They can be made worse by bright lights, noises, or smells, and make it difficult to work or concentrate. Some people get nausea and vomiting as well. These symptoms can last a few hours to a few days.
In a typical migraine, the pain starts suddenly. You may feel a warning symptom, known as an aura, before the migraine begins. The aura can be visual, such as a zig-zag pattern or moving dots, or nonvisual, such as tingling in the hands or legs, or weakness or difficulty speaking. Some people have a mixture of both types of aura. In some cases, a migraine can be triggered by a change in hormone levels, such as during menstruation or pregnancy. Other triggers can include allergies, stress, certain foods and smells, and lack of sleep. Migraines affect women three times more than men, and they can start at any age.
Your doctor will diagnose a migraine by doing a neurological examination and asking about your history of attacks, including how long they last and what seems to help or hinder them. Keeping a diary of your attacks can be helpful, as it will allow you to give your doctor detailed information about your symptoms. You might also be asked to do an EEG, which uses a series of small electrodes placed on your head to measure the electrical activity in your brain. But for the majority of migraine sufferers, there is no underlying problem that will show up on a scan or on routine blood tests, so a diagnosis of migraine must be clinically made by an experienced doctor.
If your doctor diagnoses a migraine, they will probably prescribe pain-relief medicine to treat your attack. They might also recommend that you take preventive medicines on a regular basis to make your migraines less severe and more infrequent. These include seizure medicines, blood pressure drugs (like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers), and some antidepressants. There are also several newer prescription medicines, called CGRP antagonists, which may reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines.
Medications can ease migraine pain and prevent future episodes. There are several types of prescription medications available, including triptans and the newer class of medicines called ditans, such as lasmiditan (Reyvow). Migraine treatments typically work better if they are taken early in the headache.
Over-the-counter pain medications can help with the headache phase of a migraine. Common OTC drugs include acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen. Children should not take aspirin because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Overuse of pain-relieving medication can lead to rebound headaches, so it is important to use these medications sparingly.
Some migraine sufferers experience aura, which are sensory disturbances that occur before or during the headache phase. These may affect a person’s vision, touch or speech. Auras can last up to 60 minutes.
Auras are reversible and do not necessarily indicate that the person is experiencing a migraine. They usually involve the perception of various shapes or colors, a sense of light, and sometimes pins and needles in one arm or leg. Some people have auras that do not affect their vision.
There are also a number of over-the-counter medications that can be used to treat symptoms when they occur, including antidepressants and calcium channel blockers. If these are not effective, a neurologist can prescribe stronger medicine to stop the migraine.
Preventive medication can be helpful if you have four or more migraine days per month. These include seizure medicines, blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, some antidepressants, and shots of botulinum toxin type A (Botox). The new CGRP antagonists atogepant (Qulipta), eptinezumab (Vyepti), fremanezumab (Aimovig), and galcanezumab (Emgality) also prevent migraines by blocking the protein CGRP that causes a migraine.
There are many lifestyle changes that can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Maintaining a regular sleep pattern, avoiding foods that trigger migraines and staying hydrated can all be useful. In addition, stress-reduction techniques like biofeedback and meditation can be beneficial. It is also a good idea to keep a diary of your migraines and note any potential triggers. This will allow you to make dietary and other changes when necessary.
Migraines cause throbbing, pulsating head pain that can be intense. They can also include other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sound or light.
Some people experience a warning symptom called an aura, though not everyone experiences it. Prodrome symptoms can vary and include mood changes, food cravings or stiffness of the neck.
The main symptom of migraines is a headache, which can range from mild to severe. It’s often described as a throbbing, pressure-type pain that affects the front of the head or one side. It may feel like it’s coming from your eyes or ears, and you might be sensitive to light, sound and odors.
Migraines may be preceded by a warning sign called an aura. This involves changes in the way you see things, such as flashes of light, colors or a pattern of lines that moves across your vision or blind spots. It can also include a feeling of prickling or burning sensations or muscle weakness on one side of the body. Some people experience a migraine aura with or without the headache phase.
Some migraines are triggered by specific foods or drinks, such as aged cheeses, salty foods and processed food additives. Stress, lack of sleep and hormonal changes (especially during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause) also might trigger them. Certain medications, such as oral contraceptives and vasodilators, can make them worse. The most effective pain relievers for a migraine are usually over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen. However, aspirin should never be given to children under 19 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
Migraine pain often makes you feel nauseated, sometimes to the point of vomiting. Taking over-the-counter pain medicine can help ease nausea, but you should avoid taking migraine medicines more than two days a week or 10 days a month as this could make the problem worse by triggering medication overuse headaches.
Your doctor may also prescribe nausea medication to go with your migraine pain reliever. These drugs include triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They balance the chemicals in your brain that cause headaches. You can get them as pills to swallow, tablets that dissolve on the tongue, nasal sprays, or shots. Ergotamine (Cafergot, Migergot) and dihydroergotamine (DDAVP) are related to these drugs and work in the same way. These medicines can also ease nausea and sensitivity to light or sound.
Some people have a migraine with aura, or visual symptoms, that happen before, during or even after the headache part of a migraine attack. These include blind spots, flashes of light, loss of half of their field of vision, and a zigzag pattern moving from the center of their eyes to the edge. This type of migraine is more common in women and is linked to hormone changes.
Migraine pain is a throbbing or pounding headache that often affects the front of the head and one side. Other symptoms include nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Some people may have a stiff neck or a tingling sensation in their arms and legs.
Some migraines come with a warning sign, called an aura, about 10 to 15 minutes before the headache begins. An aura can cause changes in vision, including seeing flashing lights or a pattern of lines or shadows. It can also cause problems with speech and balance. In some cases, the aura is followed by a headache that lasts about 4 hours.
Vomiting is not a usual symptom of a migraine, but it can happen in some cases. If it does occur, people should call their doctor if the vomiting continues for more than 24 hours.
Some medicines can reduce nausea and vomiting caused by migraines. These medicines are called antiemetics. They work by blocking some of the messages that tell the brain to produce nausea and vomiting. People who have frequent episodes of vomiting should drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. If the vomiting is a result of something else, doctors may order urine or blood tests to find out what’s causing it.
During a migraine attack, light or sound sensitivity can be severe. It might cause you to seek a dark room and wear protective eyewear or earplugs. The American Migraine Foundation recommends tinted lenses, which can help reduce sensitivity symptoms.
You might find certain sounds, such as a car horn or siren or the sound of a bell, unpleasant and painful to listen to during a migraine attack. Some people also experience a sensation that feels like pins and needles, especially in one side of the head.
A lot of different things can trigger a migraine, but it’s usually linked to changes in hormones or to stress. It can also be triggered by eating spicy foods, certain beverages and odors. Changing weather conditions, such as sudden rain or strong winds, can trigger migraines in some people.
You may get a sign that your headache is coming, called an aura, about 10 to 15 minutes before the actual migraine pain starts. This can include visual changes such as blurry vision or seeing stars or zigzag lines. It can also be a temporary lack of sensation or the feeling that your fingers and toes are numb. Some people also experience mood changes during the prodrome phase, such as euphoria or intense happiness.
Migraines cause dizziness in many people, particularly during the aura phase. An aura is a series of sensory symptoms such as changes in vision, blind spots or flashes of light that appear before the migraine headache and can last for up to an hour. It may also include a prickly feeling or weakness on one side of the body; trouble speaking; and tingling in the hands or feet.
Auras are not always present with migraines, but they can occur with “classic” migraines and sometimes accompany other types of headaches such as a cluster headache. In rare cases, auras can also occur with a condition called familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM).
The prodrome phase is the painless period that occurs hours or days before a migraine. It can be accompanied by mood changes, such as euphoria, and other symptoms like food cravings or a stiff neck.
A migraine headache is different from a typical headache because it usually lasts longer and is more severe. In addition, it is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound. There is no blood test or scan (such as an MRI) that can diagnose migraines, but doctors will take into account your medical history and family history of headaches and other health conditions to determine whether the head pain you’re experiencing is a migraine or not.
Migraines can be very disabling, but there are many treatments that can help. Many of these are available OTC or by prescription, including aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and combination medications that contain naproxen and acetaminophen, such as Excedrin Migraine.
Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline can prevent migraines, but side effects such as sleepiness can limit use. CGRP receptor antagonists such as nurtec ODT can prevent migraine headaches by blocking a protein that causes them.
Many people rely on pain relievers as part of their migraine treatment. These drugs can help with the pain and may also prevent symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. They are usually taken at the onset of an attack. Depending on the type of painkiller, it can take 30 minutes to two hours before its effects kick in. Some people have a better response to one drug than another, so it is important to try different kinds of painkillers.
Some of the most effective pain medications for migraine are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. These are available OTC and with a prescription. Acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol, may also be helpful. It works well for some people, but it doesn’t treat inflammation in the brain and may not be as effective as NSAIDs. It’s best to follow the recommended dosage on the product label.
Triptans are another drug that can be used to reduce the intensity of a headache. These work to narrow blood vessels in the brain and head, which helps relieve the pain. They are usually effective when they are taken early in an attack, before the full symptoms of a migraine develop. These drugs are usually more effective when they are injected rather than taken orally.
Other prescription painkillers include ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, which can be given in pill form or as an injection. They are more effective for some people than others, but they should only be used under a doctor’s supervision because of possible side effects such as liver problems and coronary heart disease.
Several newer drugs have been developed to prevent migraines. They are CGRP receptor antagonists or 5-HT1F receptor agonists. These block the action of a peptide called calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP, which causes blood vessels to open and send pain signals to the brain. Examples of these medications are atogepant (Qulipta), rimegepant (Nurtec ODT), ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) and zavegepant (Zavzpret).
An MRI scan can be used to diagnose migraines. This test uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create images of the brain and blood vessels. The neurologist who treats your migraines can then use the results of an MRI to find the cause and recommend the most effective treatment for you.
A migraine is a painful headache that can last up to four hours. Unlike regular headaches, these headaches are caused by specific nerves in your blood vessels that send pain signals to the brain and cause inflammation. Other symptoms include sensitivity to light and sound, blurry vision or seeing spots or lines. Some people also have nausea or vomiting. The reason for a migraine is not well understood, but it is believed that certain foods and drinks can trigger one. Stress is another possible cause. Migraine attacks tend to run in families, so if you have a family history of the condition it is important to discuss your risk factors with your doctor.
If your migraines occur two or more times a month and interfere with your life, you may be prescribed preventive medication. These medications are taken on a daily basis to decrease the frequency and severity of your headaches. Some examples of preventative medication are antidepressants, seizure medicines, calcitonin gene-related peptides or medicines that reduce blood pressure.
You should talk to your doctor about any other medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter supplements and herbs. They may have actions that could interact with the medication you are taking to prevent migraines.
Many different medications can be used to treat migraines, but they are often grouped into two groups: abortive and preventive (prophylactic). Abortive medications stop the progression of a headache that has already begun. The most effective ones work by constricting blood vessels, reducing the inflammation and relieving the throbbing pain of your migraine.
You should take these medications at the first sign of a migraine attack. You should also try to avoid any stimuli that can trigger a migraine, such as bright lights or strong smells. You should also make sure you get enough sleep, as deprivation can cause a migraine in some people. Stress is a common trigger, so your doctor may recommend you learn relaxation techniques. You should also try to keep a headache diary, which is an easy way to track the location, severity and duration of your migraines. You can use an app like BonTriage or a simple journal.
Various internal or external stimuli can provoke migraines. These are known as triggers, and avoiding them can help prevent an attack. Some triggers are obvious, such as red wine and caffeine withdrawal. Others are less easy to identify, such as premonitory symptoms like neck pain or fatigue. Keeping a diary to track your symptoms is an effective strategy for finding your triggers. You can write down what you ate or drank, weather conditions, and any other possible causes of the headaches. Over time, you will see patterns. This can help you avoid the foods and drinks that may cause a migraine. The diary can also help you find the best way to treat an attack, such as taking a pain reliever or taking a medication that can prevent the migraine from coming on in the first place.
The diary is a great tool for identifying your migraine triggers, but it is not always possible to completely avoid them. In fact, avoiding all your triggers can be dangerous. Some triggers are simply unavoidable, such as stress and certain foods. If you are unable to completely avoid your triggers, it is important to try to minimize the number of them that affect you.
There are several ways to reduce your exposure to triggers, including a healthy diet and regular sleep habits. Some patients also benefit from relaxation techniques or biofeedback. Migraine sufferers are often sensitive to light, so natural or bright lights can trigger an attack. They also have a strong preference for dark environments, which is why many patients prefer to spend time indoors with the shades closed.
It is also a good idea to drink plenty of water. Many people don’t get enough fluids, which can lead to dehydration and trigger an attack. Another common trigger is hunger, so it’s important to eat regularly and stick to a consistent schedule of eating times.
If you’re having a difficult time pinpointing your triggers, ask for help from a health care professional. They can recommend a variety of strategies, such as the Migraine Buddy app or the Canadian Migraine Buddy. They can also teach you stress management techniques and help you establish a more stable sleep pattern.
Exercise is a crucial part of any health routine, but it’s especially important for migraine sufferers. It triggers the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers. The goal is to find a physical activity that you enjoy and can stick with over time. Exercise can also help prevent stress, which is a known trigger for migraines. Taking a walk, dancing, cycling, swimming or jogging are all good options. However, it is important to note that high-intensity exercise can cause migraines, so it’s best to start with low-intensity exercises and gradually increase your intensity.
Various studies have shown that aerobic exercise is effective in improving the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine symptoms. These include randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental trials, cohort and case-control designs, and even narrative reviews. The evidence is strong enough to support the use of aerobic exercise in the prevention of migraine, and a variety of different exercise modalities have been studied.
A recent study found that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (elevating your heart rate to the point where you sweat but can still carry on a conversation) is effective in reducing migraines. In addition, the authors of this study found that strength/resistance training had the highest efficacy of all types of exercise.
It is important to drink water before, during and after exercise. You lose a lot of fluid through sweat, and dehydration can be a major migraine trigger. In addition, exercise in hot temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, which can also trigger a migraine. It’s best to exercise in the morning or early afternoon and to avoid long periods of exposure to direct sunlight.
Migraine is a chronic condition, so you will need to work with your doctor or physical therapist to develop a plan that works for you. It’s important to identify and avoid your triggers, and keep a headache journal so you can track patterns and improve your overall health. This will also help your doctor understand what medications or other factors are triggering your migraines. Keeping a migraine journal will allow you to make changes to your lifestyle that may help prevent future migraine attacks.
Migraines are severe headaches that affect women three times more often than men. They can last for hours or days and are made worse by certain triggers, including strong smells, light and exercise.
Many people who get migraines have a family history of them and they are more common in people with other medical conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and sleep disorders. They also tend to occur around the time of a woman’s period and can be tied to hormonal changes.
Basilar-type migraines are similar to familial hemiplegic migraine, but the aura symptoms (dysarthria, vertigo, tinnitus, decreased hearing, diplopia and ataxia) do not include motor weakness. They can be distinguished from a stroke by the accompanying headache, which is throbbing and often feels like a pressure band around the head. This type of migraine occurs most frequently in teenage girls, and may be linked to their menstrual cycle. Other symptoms of this type of migraine include numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, slurred speech and poor balance.
Although the causes of basilar-type migraines are unclear, researchers believe that they involve changes in blood vessels in the brain (as with all migraines) and transient electrical changes in the brainstem specifically. The symptoms are reversible, and the condition is not life-threatening.
While these symptoms are not dangerous, they can be frightening, especially the first time an attack occurs or until a diagnosis is made. They can mimic some serious diseases, including brain disorders, tumors and infections, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. A neurologist will likely order a magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography (MRI or CT) scan and an electroencephalogram (EEG) to rule out other diseases and conditions.
If the migraine episodes are frequent, preventive treatment may be recommended. This involves taking medications to prevent the attacks before they occur. The medication may be a prescription antidepressant or an anti-seizure drug. In addition, calcium channel blockers can be used to reduce the symptoms. Other migraine-specific medications, such as triptans and ergotamines, are generally avoided, since they can constrict the arteries in the brain.
It is also important to keep a headache diary and try to identify the triggers of your migraine. Over-the-counter pain relievers, rest and relaxation, a healthy diet and exercise and lifestyle modifications can also help reduce the frequency of your attacks. In addition, you should avoid smoking and exposure to bright light. If you experience a basilar-type migraine with aura, it is important to get medical help as soon as possible. It can increase the risk of other health issues, such as ischemic stroke.
Auras are a symptom of migraines, but not everyone who gets headaches experiences them. They occur before the pain phase of migraine attacks and can be caused by a variety of factors, including diet, weather changes and psychological stressors. They may be accompanied by tinnitus or dizziness. They can also be triggered by a number of foods, including those containing nitrates, tyramine and monosodium glutamate. They can also be a result of hormone fluctuations or exposure to strong odors and bright lights.
The most common type of aura is visual, and it can take the form of wavy or zigzagging lines, stars, shimmers, flashes of light or other vision changes. The visual aura is believed to be caused by a type of electrical activity called cortical spreading depression, which causes the neurons in your brain’s cerebral cortex to stop firing for a brief period.
Typically, the visual aura is not painful, but it can be uncomfortable and sometimes even disturbing. During this time, it’s important to keep track of your symptoms and avoid activities that could cause them to worsen. It’s important to talk to a doctor about the type of aura you experience and whether it is related to migraines.
Auras can be accompanied by a number of other symptoms, including nausea and sensitivity to sound and light. They can last for several hours and can be more severe in women than men. Migraine with aura is more common in younger people, possibly because of hormonal changes. It is also more common in people who have a family history of migraines.
While visual auras are often a sign of an impending migraine, they can also be a sign of a more serious problem like a stroke or seizure. If you’re experiencing a visual aura for the first time, it’s essential to see your doctor right away to ensure there’s not an underlying issue. They might prescribe medication or recommend other treatments, such as nerve stimulation or surgery. They might also advise you to change your diet or lifestyle to avoid triggers.
Migraine headaches can affect more than 37 million men, women, and children in the United States. This primary headache disorder causes pulsing or throbbing pain in one side of the head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and is often made worse by routine physical activity. It’s important to recognize your personal triggers, including stress and specific foods, so you can take steps to prevent migraines from occurring.
An aura is a group of sensory, motor and speech symptoms that act as warning signals that a migraine headache is about to begin. They typically happen before the headache, but can also appear during or even after the migraine. Approximately 15% to 20% of migraine sufferers experience auras. Auras can look like bright flashing dots, sparkles or lights and can last from 10 to 60 minutes.
The term retinal migraine is sometimes used interchangeably with ocular migraine and migraine with aura, but these conditions are distinct. Ocular migraine refers to a headache that affects both eyes, while retinal migraine is a type of aura that happens in only one eye. Ocular migraine occurs when a decrease in blood flow to the back of the eye (the retina) occurs, while visual migraine occurs when a disturbance in brain activity causes changes in vision in both eyes.
Hemiplegic migraines are a less common form of migraine that cause weakness in one side of the body, which can be felt as if you had a stroke. The weakness can be limited to a particular area of the face, arm, or leg, and may last from an hour to days. In some cases, the weakness follows the aura or the head pain and goes away within 24 hours.
A migraine without aura is a condition in which you have all the other symptoms of migraine, except for the head pain. This can include a pulsating headache of moderate to severe intensity on one side of the head, sensitivity to lights and sounds, and nausea and vomiting. In most cases, migraine without aura is triggered by the same triggers as other types of migraines, such as stress, eating certain foods, and hormone fluctuations.
The condition known as status migrainosus is a serious complication of migraine that can be triggered by medications or other factors. It can lead to a debilitating migraine that lasts more than 72 hours. It is also referred to as intractable migraine and can occur in people with migraine with or without aura. It is important to recognize this complication so that it can be treated appropriately.
The onset of the headache is sudden and often intense. It can be on one or both sides of the head and lasts from 4 to 72 hours if untreated. The pain is usually centered around the temples or the head. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. It is also possible to have a visual aura, which can be as simple as flashes of light or as complex as seeing various shapes and colors. An aura can also cause weakness on one side of the body or pins and needles sensations in the arm or leg.
A person who experiences status migrainosus should contact their doctor immediately. They should also write down the details of their headache, including when it started, how long it lasted and how severe the pain was. The doctor will then try to identify the triggers for the migraine. They will ask about the patient’s lifestyle, such as sleeping and eating habits, stress levels and medications they take. They may recommend treatments like neuromodulation, biofeedback, acupuncture or botulinum toxin.
Treatment for status migrainosus includes rest, hydration and pain relief. The patient should also avoid caffeine and other foods that may trigger the migraine. They should also avoid certain medications that are associated with rebound headaches such as ergotamine preparations, narcotics or triptans. The patient should be monitored closely for complications such as brain bleeds, seizures and stroke.
Some of the most effective treatments for status migrainosus are the new CGRP inhibitors, which reduce inflammatory proteins that increase blood vessel narrowing and promote pain. However, these medicines require special authorization and are only available in certain headache clinics. Moreover, they can be expensive and are difficult to get in the United States.