Migraine Headache Symptoms

Migraine symptoms vary from person to person, and may not always be the same in a single individual. The symptoms also depend on which migraine phase the person is experiencing.

Migraine phases

The usual course of a migraine can be broken down into four phases, although not everyone experiences all four phases. The four phases are:

• Prodrome
• Aura
• Migraine attack (headache)
• Postdrome

Prodrome

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Food cravings
• Increased urination
• Mood changes (such as depression, irritability, or euphoria)
  

Aura

• Blurred vision
• Flashing lights
• Temporary blind spots
• Tunnel vision
• Zigzag lines

Additional symptoms may include:

• Dizziness
• Hearing sounds and smelling odors that aren't there
• Sensitivity to touch
• Speech difficulties
• Tingling or numbness in the face and extremities

Occasionally, the aura may not be followed by a headache.

Migraine attack (headache)

• Moderate to severe in intensity
• Throbbing, pounding, or pulsating
• Worse on one side of the head
• Intensified by physical activity
• From 4 to 72 hours in duration

Additional symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and odors

Postdrome

• Fatigue
• Impaired concentration
• Mood changes (ranging from depression to euphoria)

A minor headache may also be experienced during the postdrome.

Migraine classifications

The two major migraine classifications are:

• Migraine without aura
  A migraine without aura is sometimes called a common migraine.
• Migraine with aura
  A migraine with aura is sometimes called a classical migraine.

Several atypical migraine classifications also occur, such as:

• Abdominal migraine
  Some children experience abdominal migraines. The symptoms may include recurring periods of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting of unknown gastrointestinal cause.
• Basilar migraine
  Basilar migraine symptoms may include a migraine with aura, confusion, dizziness, fainting, and vision problems
• Cyclic migraine syndrome
  People with cyclic migraine syndrome experience 10 or more migraine attacks per month.
• Hemiplegic migraine
  People with hemiplegic migraine may develop temporary motor paralysis and/or sensory disturbances on one side of the body, immediately followed by a headache.
• Nocturnal migraine
  Nocturnal migraine attacks occur during the night or in the early morning.
• Ocular migraine
  People with ocular migraines experience a visual aura without the headache.
• Ophthalmoplegic migraine
  Ophthalmoplegic migraine symptoms include pain around the eyeball that lasts from a few days to a few months.
• Status migraine
  A status migraine attack lasts for more than 72 hours.
  

Pediatric migraines

Only 3% of children get migraines. Their symptoms differ from adults and typically may include:

• Pain on both sides of the head
• A duration from 30 minutes to 2 hours
• Nausea and vomiting
• No aura

Approximately half of the children will get migraines as adults.