What are the phases of migraine?
The prodrome or premonitory phase occurs in about 80% of migraineurs and may precede the attack by hours or up to 1 or 2 days.
Symptoms include changes in mental state (such as depression, hyperactivity, irritability, or drowsiness), neurologic symptoms (such as photophobia, phonophobia, and yawning), and general symptoms (such as stiff neck, food cravings, diarrhea, or constipation).
- Aura in about 30%
- Headache in most but not everyone
- Resolution phase or postdrome symptoms include changes in mood, weakness, tiredness, anorexia, irritability, and poor concentration (“mashed potato brain”)
Sources
- Stewart WF, Wood C, Reed ML, et al.; AMPP Advisory Group: cumulative lifetime migraine incidence in women and men. Cephalalgia 28(11):1170-1178, 2008.
- Evans RW, Lipton RB, Silberstein SD: The prevalence of migraine in neurologists. Neurology 61:1271-1272, 2003.
- Evans RW, Evans RE, Kell HJ: A survey of family doctors on the likeability of migraine and other common diseases and their prevalence of migraine. Cephalalgia 30:620-623, 2010.
- Evans RW, Stewart W, Lipton RB. Physician, study thyself. Headache 699-700, 2013.
- Evans RW: Migraine and the presidency. Headache 51:1431-1439, 2011.
