Symptoms of a Migraine

While migraines are commonly thought of as just bad headaches, they often involve other symptoms as well. You can experience up to four phases during a migraine episode, each of which can be recognized by its own set of characteristics. Your migraine attacks may not all be exactly the same, but recognizing the range of symptoms that can occur can help tip you off as to if what you're experiencing could be a migraine. If you're already diagnosed, knowing where these symptoms fit into the typical sequence of stages can help you decide when to take your medication.

Migraines may result in medication-related complications, and rarely, a migraine can induce a serious health complication. Other conditions, such as transient ischemic attack (TIA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) can produce symptoms similar to those of a migraine, so you may need to seek medical attention if you have any warning signs.

Frequent Symptoms

Migraine episodes can include several stages: prodome, aura, headache, and postdrome. You may cycle through all of these phases when you have a migraine, or you might experience just one, two, or three of them. The headache phase is the most common, while the aura is the least common.

Prodrome

The prodrome is characterized by premonitory symptoms of an impending migraine and it can begin hours or days before a migraine episode reaches its peak intensity.

Most people with migraine experience prodromal symptoms, and taking migraine medication during this stage may stop the episode from progressing.

Typical symptoms during a prodrome are:

• Food cravings
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Mood changes: sadness, irritability, anxiety
• Muscle stiffness or soreness, especially in the neck
• Fatigue
• Excessive yawning
• Nausea
• Fluid retention, bloating
• Increased frequency of urination
• Difficulty concentrating
• Vivid dreams
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells
• Feeling cold

Aura

Approximately one-third of migraineurs experience aura, which usually follows the prodrome and lasts for less than an hour. This stage is characterized by neurological symptoms, and it can be quite terrifying, especially when you experience it for the first time.

Symptoms of a migraine aura can include:

• Visual changes: flashing lights, wavy lines, spots, partial loss of vision, blind spot, blurry vision
• Tingling, numbness, or hypersensitivity of the face or extremities
• Vertigo (a sense that the room is spinning)
• Difficulty finding words and/or speaking
• Confusion
• Partial paralysis
• Olfactory hallucinations (smelling odors that aren't there)
• Auditory hallucinations (hearing things that are not there)
• A decrease or loss of hearing

Headache

The head pain of a migraine is often described as throbbing, pounding, or pulsating. You may also experience other symptoms along with the head pain. This phase usually lasts from four to 72 hours.

Common characteristics of the headache phase may include:

• Hemicranial (on one side of the head) pain that can shift to the other side or become bilateral
• Phonophobia (sensitivity to sound)
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nasal congestion and/or runny nose
• Sadness or anxiety
• Hot flashes and chills
• Dizziness
• Dehydration or fluid retention

Postdrome

After the most intense phase of a migraine, you may experience a postdrome before your migraine attack is completely over.

The symptoms of postdrome include:

• Fatigue
• Mood changes, which can include sadness, anxiety, or elevated mood
• Muscle aches
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Stiff neck
• Scalp tenderness

Many people describe postdrome as feeling "like a zombie" or hungover.

Postdromal symptoms can be associated with abnormal cerebral blood flow and electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns for up to 24 hours after the end of the headache stage. Even if you do not experience the headache stage, you may still experience a postdrome phase.

Childhood Migraines

Children also experience migraines, and the symptoms can differ from those of adults. If you note the following symptoms in your child, migraines may be the cause, especially if your child has a family history of the condition:

• Stomachache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Motion sickness
• Moodiness
• Excessive sleepiness

Be sure to discuss these symptoms with your doctor. They could be signs of another medical condition, but if migraines are the cause, your child can take medication to help prevent and treat episodes.

Rare Symptoms

Rare symptoms are typically associated with migraine subtypes, and while they may be similar to a migraine aura, the main difference is that these unusual symptoms are usually the most prominent aspect of the migraine episodes.

Weakness

Weakness, typically in one arm, occurs with hemiplegic migraine. If you have hemiplegic migraines, you may also experience several migraine stages and other aura symptoms. There is a strong hereditary tendency to develop this type of migraine.

Stomachaches

More common in children than adults, abdominal migraine is characterized by stomachaches that occur without a gastrointestinal cause and may involve nausea and vomiting.

Paralysis of Eye Movement

Double vision, blurred vision, a droopy eyelid, or an obvious inability to move one eye can be a sign of ophthalmoplegic migraine.

Absent Headache

Although not very common, you can have a migraine aura without a headache. There are several terms used to describe this experience, including "silent migraine," "sans-migraine," and "migraine equivalent."

Complications/ Sub-Group Indications

Migraines do not typically cause complications, although they can. The most common complications are related to medication use.

Medication Effects

Side effects of overuse can include stomach pain and gastrointestinal bleeding from taking high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Other medications, including triptans and ergot medications, can cause side effects such as dizziness, tingling, or even vascular complications when taken at higher doses than directed.

Keep in mind that all medications—whether over-the-counter or prescription— can cause side effects even at recommended doses.

Medication rebound headaches or medication withdrawal headaches can occur when you take migraine medications at high doses or for a prolonged time and then abruptly stop.

Migraine Complications

Complications from a migraine itself include some serious concerns that require medical attention:

Status migrainosus: If your migraine lasts longer than 72 hours despite treatment, it's termed status migrainosus, a condition that is unlikely to resolve with your regular prescription. You should seek medical attention because you may need treatment with intravenous (IV) medication.

Migrainous infarction: An infarction in the brain is a type of stroke caused by lack of blood flow. A migrainous infarction begins with migraine symptoms that can eventually involve stroke symptoms and may produce permanent neurological effects.

Seizure: A convulsive episode that may be characterized by involuntary shaking or jerking may occur as a result of a migraine. The physiological reason for this complication is not well understood.

When to See a Doctor/Go to the Hospital

Migraines do not normally require emergency medical attention. The treatment is really based on a plan for both prevention and treatment of acute attacks. Nevertheless, when you are not sure if your symptoms are caused by a migraine, or when your migraine pattern changes, you need to seek medical attention.

Urgent Medical Care

Symptoms such as paralysis, loss of sensation, difficulty communicating, loss of vision, and double vision can all be manifestations of a stroke, MS, meningitis, seizures, and other neurological illnesses. If you experience any of these rare symptoms and they have not been attributed to migraines (or if you're unsure of their connection), then you should get prompt medical attention.

Even if you have a diagnosis of migraines, you should have a medical evaluation if your headaches occur with certain features, including:

• The worst headache of your life
• Fevers
• Recurrent vomiting/can't keep anything down
• Head trauma
• Falling/ inability to balance

Talk to Your Doctor

If your migraine pattern changes in frequency or intensity or if your symptoms change, you should talk to your doctor. You may need a diagnostic evaluation or a change in your treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes migraines?

Migraines may be trigged by alcohol consumption, changes in weather or sleep patterns, extreme fatigue, hormonal changes during menstruation, caffeine, sensitivity to chemicals or preservatives in food, smoke, strong perfumes, and light.

How common are migraine headaches?

Approximately 12% of Americans suffer from migraines, and about 75% of those are women.

How long do migraine headaches last?

Migraine headaches can last anywhere from hours to days. The average migraine headache lasts about four hours.