Nausea is a nagging, sick feeling can arise alongside headache. For some, it might come and go. For others, it’s around almost all the time. And feeling seasick when you’re just trying to walk down the hallway isn’t fun.
An overwhelming 92 percent of migraineurs experience nausea during a migraine attack, and 56 percent report they experience nausea during a majority of their attacks, according to a study published in the February 2012 issue of the journal Headache. “More than 50 percent of patients rank nausea among the top three most distressing symptoms of a migraine attack,” the study says.
In children, the nausea may arise in the form of abdominal migraine, a type of migraine characterized by what feels like a stomachache. It is also a common symptom of vestibular migraine, which couples vertigo with migraine symptoms.1
Anti-nausea medications can be useful to relieve nausea during a migraine attack. But nausea prevents 30.5 percent of migraineurs from taking oral medications. Furthermore, nausea could be a side effect for those who do take oral medications. In these instances, alternative delivery methods (outside of the traditional pill) could be an ideal option to circumvent the gastrointestinal tract. Among these are injectibles, nasal sprays and tablets that dissolve in the mouth. It may also be worthwhile to look into preventive medications to keep the migraines from happening in the first place.
Do you experience nausea with your headaches? Tell us about your experiences below.
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