Overview
Along with throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound, severe and acute migraines can also cause vertigo and nausea.
Migraine-associated vertigo (MAV) is dizziness and unsteadiness that comes with a migraine. About 40 percent of people with migraines have experienced some kind of dizziness or disruption in their balance during an attack, according to the Vestibular Disorders Association. This condition is sometimes called migrainous vertigo.
MAV is often described as a sense of rotational movement, or feeling like the room is spinning. Feelings of general unsteadiness, imbalance, or motion sickness can also occur.
These sensations can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Symptoms may occur before, during, or in the absence of a migraine.
In general, drugs used to treat migraine pain don’t help with vertigo. This includes triptans. Drugs made to counter normal episodes of vertigo and nausea may be helpful for MAV symptoms. These drugs include:
- dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol)
- meclizine hydrochloride (Antivert, Dramamine Less Drowsy)
If your episodes are debilitating or frequent, your doctor may recommend a preventive medication regimen. High blood pressure, seizure, or antidepressant medications can help eliminate MAV. Avoiding known migraine triggers and making sure you get enough sleep may also help.
Severe or acute migraines can also cause nausea or vomiting. Women tend to experience these symptoms more often than men.
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Some migraine-specific medications, especially ergotamines, may cause abdominal side effects such as nausea and vomiting. It’s important to tell your doctor if you’re having bouts of nausea along with your migraines. Together you can discuss different treatment plans.
If you feel a migraine coming on, staying in a quiet, dark room and sipping water may help reduce nausea. Read on for other ways to reduce nausea.
Antiemetics, or antinausea medications, can help reduce nausea or vomiting. Some over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines may be used to treat nausea associated with vertigo or dizziness. They include dimenhydrinate and meclizine hydrochloride.
If you’re taking other prescription medications, talk to your doctor before using an OTC antiemetic.
Prescription antinausea medications such as metoclopramide (Reglan) may also be used to treat more severe cases of nausea associated with migraine. Metoclopramide can be taken orally or in a pill form. It can also be administered intravenously.
About 10 percent of school-age children have had a migraine, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Children with migraines tend to experience symptoms differently than adults with migraines. For example, head pain may be less severe than other symptoms, including nausea.
Abdominal pain and vomiting are very common in children who have migraines. In fact, this common condition can occur without a migraine. It’s referred to as a migraine equivalent.
Other non-migraine symptoms children with migraines might experience include:
- attacks of stomach pain or cramping
- sensitivity to light or sound
- dizziness
- mood changes
General OTC pain medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen (Aleve), may help relieve abdominal symptoms. Stronger antiemetics may also be prescribed by your child’s doctor.
Speak with your doctor or your child’s doctor about appropriate treatments if you think you or your child are experiencing vertigo or nausea with your migraines. They can help you form a treatment plan to manage your symptoms.