Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?

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Migraines cause throbbing headaches, in addition to nausea and vomiting. Some assume that cyclical vomiting and nausea is caused by migraine headaches, but that is not the case. Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) that occurs with abdominal migraines is a separate condition that shares comorbidity with migraine symptoms.

WHY DO MIGRAINES CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING? WWW.MIGRAVENT.COM

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS)

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a condition that involves repetitive vomiting and nausea over a long period.  A person suffering from cyclic vomiting will experience spells of extreme queasiness, stomach cramps, heaving, and vomiting that alternate with “breaks” without symptoms.  This can go on for hours, or days.  Physicians used to believe that CVS was strictly a pediatric disease, but current research indicates that CVS can strike people of all age groups.

WHY DO MIGRAINES CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING? WWW.MIGRAVENT.COMMigraines with CVS

Researchers are unsure as to why CVS occurs with migraine attacks, but they acknowledge that a high percentage of migraine sufferers experience nausea, stomach upset, and vomiting that is typical of cyclic vomiting syndrome.  Abdominal migraines cause throbbing head pain, in addition to stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Migraine triggers such as stress and anxiety are also common triggers of CVS.

Abdominal migraines- who gets them?

Although CVS can strike anybody, abdominal migraines in children is most common.  Adolescent migraine patients usually complain of stomachaches in place of headaches, sometimes causing cyclical vomiting and/or migraine with aura. As they get older, their abdominal migraine symptoms switch to typical classic migraine symptoms- sharp head pain, neck pain, sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds, and migraines with or without aura.  (Read What are Abdominal Migraines?)

WHY DO MIGRAINES CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING? WWW.MIGRAVENT.COM

Anti- nausea drugs for migraines

Some migraine medications are effective at treating all migraine symptoms at once, including nausea and vomiting.  However, prescribed migraine remedies don’t always work as efficiently as they should. If cyclical vomiting is keeping you from digesting your migraine medications, then your headache doctor might prescribe anti-nausea drugs to soothe your stomach and put an end to vomiting.

Note that many of the following anti-nausea drugs come with side effects such as dizziness and fatigue:

  • Phenergan
  • Thorazine
  • Compazine
  • Tigan
  • Reglan

Natural migraine ingredients

Many natural migraine ingredients provide nutritional support to migraine sufferers that improve neurological functioning, without causing side effects associated with other over-the-counter (OTC) products. For sour stomach, many people recommend ginger, peppermint, or chamomile teas. Also, supplementing with magnesium and butterbur has resulted in overwhelmingly positive results for many people who have suffered with chronic migraines for years.

WHY DO MIGRAINES CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING? WWW.MIGRAVENT.COM

Read more about migraine ingredients:

Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies

The Painkilling Power of Ginger: Migraines and Beyond

7 Healing Headache Relief Treatments for Children

Sources:

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome – National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Nausea Drugs for Migraines and Headaches

Migraine- Health- Patient UK

Comorbidity of headache and gastrointestinal complaints. The Head-HUNT Study- PubMed NCBI

Image credits, from top:

QuinnDombrowski, Spencer E Holtaway, suzyq212, Chris Morriss