What Are Abdominal Migraines in Adults?

Abdominal migraine is a type of migraine that causes abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Despite the name, this condition does not cause migraine headaches.

Abdominal migraines are common in children. Some studies suggest up to 9% of school aged children may experience them. They are much less common in adults, though they do still happen in this group.

Abdominal migraines are treated in much the same way as migraine headaches. Over-the-counter pain medication and prescription medication can help relieve symptoms. Attacks can also be prevented with prescription medication and by avoiding triggers such as stress and certain foods.

Read more about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment methods of abdominal migraines in adults.

Symptoms of Abdominal Migraine

Symptoms of abdominal migraine may include:

• Abdominal pain, usually around the navel (belly button)
• Nausea and vomiting

Abdominal pain is the primary symptom of abdominal migraine. It is usually described as dull, rather than piercing, but it is still intense. Oftentimes, people with abdominal migraines aren’t able to go about their day because of the pain.

Vomiting is common in kids with abdominal migraines, but less common in adults. Still, adults sometimes experience nausea and vomiting.

Abdominal migraine attacks can last 2–72 hours. Between the attacks, the person with a migraine usually feels fine, with no lingering symptoms.

Causes of Abdominal Migraines in Adults

Like migraine headaches, abdominal migraines are thought to be caused by neurological issues. There is a recognized relationship between the brain and the gut (the stomach and intestines), known as the brain-gut connection. Doctors don’t entirely understand what causes migraine headaches or abdominal migraines, but they know that there is a neurological component that affects both the head and the gut.

Oftentimes, abdominal migraines can have the same triggers as migraine headaches. These can include stress, weather changes, certain foods, or poor sleep. If you believe that you’re suffering from abdominal migraines, keep a journal to help determine which triggers might be causing your attacks. 

Abdominal Migraine vs. Migraine Headache

Scientists believe that an abdominal migraine and a migraine headache have the same causes, rooted in the neurological system. Migraine headaches in adults are usually characterized by pain in one side of the head. People with migraine headaches can find themselves sensitive to light and sound, and they may experience aura, which can include vision changes.

With abdominal migraines, the symptoms present as a dull, aching pain in the gut, usually near the belly button. In both cases, the pain is severe enough to interfere with a person’s normal daily functioning.

Migraines are cyclical, which means that attacks happen sporadically. In between attacks, a person with migraines of either type usually feels fine.

Although the symptoms are very different, the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal migraine in adults are very similar to those of migraine headaches. Migraine headaches occur more often in adults, while abdominal migraines are most common in children ages 3–10. Adults can experience them in isolated cases and sometimes in addition to migraine headaches, too.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Migraines in Adults

There’s no definitive test that is used to diagnose abdominal migraines, just like there is no test that can diagnose migraine headaches. Instead of relying on a test, the diagnosis of abdominal migraine is made based on a person’s symptoms. In order to be diagnosed with the condition, you must:

• Have had at least five attacks of abdominal pain, characterized by a dull, moderate to severe pain around the belly button
• Have no gastrointestinal symptoms between attacks, and no other gastrointestinal conditions

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you believe that you have abdominal migraines, you should speak to your healthcare provider. There are treatments that can prevent and treat abdominal migraines so that the condition doesn’t frequently interfere with your day-to-day life. In addition, since abdominal migraines increase your risk for migraine headaches, it’s good to make your healthcare provider aware of the situation so they can track your progress and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Preventing Abdominal Migraines

The best way to prevent abdominal migraines is by avoiding your triggers. This might mean keeping a regular sleep schedule, managing stress, and avoiding foods that could cause an attack.

If you have frequent, severe attacks even after you’ve adapted lifestyle changes, you should talk to your doctor about medications that can prevent migraines of the abdomen. These are the same medications used to treat migraine headaches and may include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and blood pressure medications. 

Treatment of Abdominal Migraines

Once an abdominal migraine has started, you can treat it the same way that you would treat a migraine headache. The use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil (ibuprofen) can help control the pain. Triptans can be used to stop the attack before it gets worse. In addition, your doctor might recommend anti-nausea medications and rehydration, particularly if your abdominal migraines include severe vomiting.

A Word From Verywell

If you’re experiencing stomach pain, migraine probably isn’t the first explanation that comes to mind. In fact, many people don’t realize that abdominal migraine in adults is a real condition.

However, if you have persistent, cyclical, unexplained stomach pain, you should talk to your doctor about abdominal migraines, particularly if you have a family history of migraines. There are treatments available to help prevent and interrupt abdominal migraines, so there’s no need to let this condition interfere with your life. Reaching out for professional guidance and treatment can help you get back to the day-to-day activities that you love.