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Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about Migraine Australia or migraine? Check here to see if we already have an answer for you. 

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Who is Migraine Australia


Migraine Australia is a national patient advocacy body and registered health promotion charity. We were founded by, and will always be led by, people who have a lived experience of migraine. We advocate and work for better management of migraine, better support for people who live with it and their families, and a better understanding of migraine throughout the community. You can see the details of our current leadership team here

Migraine Australia is primarily funded by membership fees and donations from people like you. Make a donation here. 

From time to time we will get grants to do certain projects. We have recently been awarded a grant from the Federal Department of Health to produce migraine awareness materials for patients. 

There are many different types of headache and you will need the help of a doctor for accurate diagnosis. However, typically the headache associated with migraine is on one side of the head, is a moderate to severe pain, and pulsates or throbs. To be diagnosed with migraine you also have to have other symptoms - such as sensitivity to light, noise or smell, or nausea and vomiting associated with your headaches - and you have to have at least three attacks to confirm it is migraine. 

All migraine is chronic, but there is a specific diagnosis of Chronic Migraine which is more than 15 headache days a month, 8 of which are migraine days. You may hear the phrase 'transformed' migraine, which refers to when someone with an episodic presentation of migraine attacks - less than 15 headache days a month - gets worse and has more frequent attacks, becoming Chronic Migraine. This happens to about 3% of the migraine population every year.

It is believed that people with migraine spiral into more frequent headaches and migraine attacks because of a process called Central Sensitisation. Frequent pain changes how the  brain works, resulting in more pain being experiences with less provoking stimuli. The brain becomes more sensitive to pain and therefore you feel more severe pain and more often. The more frequent the attacks, the more this central pain sensitisation becomes persistent and difficult to treat. 

The other factor is called medication overuse headache. This is a complication of migraine where frequent use of medications creates more headache. Again, the more medication you take, the more headache you get. 

No. Migraine is a primary disorder - it is not caused by something else. You must have the relevant variations in your genes to have migraine. However, migraine has many comorbidities and poor health in other areas can make your migraine attacks worse. 

There are a range of medications and other therapies that can be used to prevent migraine attacks. Discuss with your doctor if they are right for you, but generally, they should be considered if you are having more than 4 migraine attacks per month. If less than 4 attacks a month, you should be able to manage things with abortive medications like triptans and acute medications that treat symptoms like pain killers.   

Yes. Migraine is caused by variations to the genes that relate to how ions are processed in the brain. So far 44 different loci have been identified as being related to migraine. Some people have a single gene variation, but most people have a combination of gene variations. It is strongly hereditary (if you have migraine there's a 50% chance your child will too), but because it is caused by a combination of genes in most people, you can still get it if your parents don't have it by getting some from mum, and some from dad. These genetic differences generally make the ions go too fast in a migraine brain, and that makes the migraine brain hyper-reactive to sensory inputs and other stimuli. 

Learn more about migraine genetics

Yes. The youngest presentation of migraine is believed to be colic - when babies cry excessively for no apparent reason. Migraine attacks involving headache have been recorded as young as 18 months old. In children aged between 5 and 10, the most common presentation of migraine is abdominal migraine, including vomiting, diarrhea and/or constipation. Children with migraine may also get car sick easily. Half of all kids with migraine have their first headache attack before the age of 12. In the teenage years migraine becomes much more aggressive and can be debilitating thanks to the changes in hormones. From about the age of 17 onwards, boys tend to stabilise or improve, while girls usually continue and progressively worsen until their 50s. 

Recognizing the early signs of a migraine attack can help with managing symptoms more effectively. Many people experience warning signs or symptoms in the prodrome phase, which can occur hours or even days before the headache phase begins. These early signs vary widely between individuals but may include:

  • Changes in mood: Feeling unusually irritable, anxious, or even euphoric.
  • Fatigue or low energy: A sense of sluggishness or exhaustion that isn’t typical.
  • Increased sensitivity: Heightened sensitivity to light, sound, or smells.
  • Food cravings: Strong cravings for certain foods, particularly sweet or salty items.
  • Digestive symptoms: Nausea, constipation, or diarrhea may occur before the headache begins.
  • Yawning: Frequent yawning, even when not tired, can be a subtle sign.
  • Neck stiffness or discomfort: A feeling of tightness or tension in the neck and shoulders.

For those who experience migraine aura (a distinct neurological phase that occurs before or during the headache phase), symptoms may include:

  • Visual disturbances, such as flashing lights, zigzag patterns, or blind spots.
  • Tingling or numbness, typically starting in one hand and moving to the face or other areas.
  • Difficulty speaking or finding the right words.

Tracking patterns in these early symptoms can help individuals identify when a migraine attack is starting. Keeping a migraine diary can be particularly helpful in identifying personal warning signs and triggers. Recognizing these early phases allows for timely interventions, such as decreasing stimulus (light and/or sound), using tools such as ice packs, or electrolytes, or using acute treatments (medications), which may help reduce the severity or duration of the attack.

It’s important to note that not everyone experiences all phases of a migraine, and symptoms can vary between attacks.

Feeling fatigued before, during, and after a migraine attack is a common experience and is tied to the complex neurological changes that occur throughout the migraine cycle. Fatigue can occur during multiple phases of a migraine:

  • Before the attack (prodrome phase): Many people experience fatigue as an early warning sign of an impending migraine. This may be linked to changes in brain activity and hormone levels which influence energy levels.
  • During the attack (headache phase): The brain is in a hyperactive state during a migraine, and the pain, sensory sensitivities, and other symptoms require significant physical and mental energy to endure. This can leave the body feeling drained, particularly when combined with symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
  • After the attack (postdrome phase): Often referred to as a “migraine hangover,” the postdrome phase is characterized by lingering fatigue, brain fog, and a sense of overall exhaustion. During this phase, the body and brain are recovering from the intense neurological activity and inflammation caused by the migraine attack.

Other factors can also contribute to fatigue during a migraine, including poor sleep quality, dehydration, and the body’s response to stress or pain. Additionally, if migraine attacks are frequent, the cumulative effect of repeated attacks can exacerbate overall tiredness.

Managing fatigue often involves addressing the underlying migraine itself and supporting recovery through adequate rest, hydration, balanced nutrition, and stress management. For individuals experiencing persistent or debilitating fatigue, it may be helpful to consult with a healthcare professional to explore personalized strategies and ensure there are no other contributing health conditions.

My migraine attacks are getting worse as I am getting older. I have tried preventative medications in the past and don’t want to go back on them due to experiencing negative side effects. Is there anything I can do to help ease/prevent my attacks besides going on medication?


Migraine is a threshold condition. Everyone has a unique threshold for what triggers an attack, and this threshold can be influenced by many factors, including stress, sleep patterns, diet, hydration, hormonal changes, and even physical tension in the neck or jaw. When multiple triggers build up, they can lower the migraine threshold and make it easier for an attack to occur. Conversely, reducing these triggers can increase the threshold, making attacks less likely. And these triggers can also change over time, influencing the frequency or intensity of attacks.

An important part of migraine management is to identify what contributes to each individual’s migraine sensitivity. This can involve:

  • Tracking triggers: Keeping a migraine diary to note patterns in diet, stress, sleep, physical activity, and other factors that may precede an attack.
  • Managing stress: Practices such as mindfulness, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or therapy can help reduce stress and its impact on migraine.
  • Improving sleep hygiene: Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding screens before bedtime, and creating a calming nighttime routine can promote better sleep quality, which is crucial for migraine prevention.
  • Dietary adjustments: Identifying and avoiding personal food triggers (if any) and ensuring regular meals to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
  • Nutrition and supplements: Certain nutrients, such as magnesium, riboflavin (B2), and coenzyme Q10, have been shown to support migraine prevention in some people. Consulting with a healthcare provider can help determine if supplements like these might be beneficial.
  • Hydration: Staying adequately hydrated throughout the day to avoid dehydration, a common trigger.
  • Exercise: Regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or yoga, can help reduce migraine frequency by lowering stress, improving sleep, and enhancing overall health. However, it’s important to start gradually and avoid overexertion, as intense exercise can sometimes trigger an attack.
  • Addressing physical factors: Managing tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw through manual therapy, posture correction, or gentle exercises can reduce physical stressors.
  • Managing other health conditions: Conditions such as hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, or other chronic illnesses can increase migraine sensitivity. Effectively managing these conditions can help reduce overall migraine burden.

It’s also important to recognize that these contributing factors may change over time, so ongoing assessment and adjustments are often necessary. Building a tailored approach to lifestyle changes can help reduce sensitivity and make it harder for a migraine attack to be triggered.

Certain foods can act as migraine triggers for some individuals, but it’s important to remember that everyone is different. Not all potential trigger foods will affect everyone in the same way. Rather than avoiding a long list of foods, it’s best to focus on identifying which, if any, might be triggering migraine attacks in a specific individual.

A migraine diary can be a valuable tool for this process. By tracking what is eaten, when migraine symptoms occur, and any other relevant factors (such as stress or sleep), patterns may emerge. To identify a food as a potential trigger:

  • Symptoms should develop within 12 to 24 hours of consuming the food.
  • The food should trigger symptoms more than half the times it is eaten.

Common categories of potential trigger foods include those high in gluten, histamine, tyramine, nitrates, MSG, caffeine, alcohol, and phenylethylamine, but this list is not exhaustive. If a food is suspected, an elimination diet may help confirm whether it is a trigger. This involves avoiding the food for about four weeks while monitoring migraine frequency, severity, and response to treatment using the migraine diary. If no change occurs, that food alone may not be the culprit.

It’s important to approach dietary changes with caution. Avoiding all potential triggers long-term is neither practical nor helpful. Over-restricting foods can lead to unnecessary stress and take away from the enjoyment of meals, which may in itself contribute to migraine attacks. Identifying and addressing personal triggers in a balanced way is key.

Persistent daily symptoms following an acute migraine attack can be indicative of a condition called Status Migrainosus. This occurs when a migraine attack lasts longer than 72 hours and can sometimes extend into weeks or months.

In status migrainosus, the brain remains in a hyperexcitable state, leading to ongoing symptoms that are often similar to regular migraine attacks such as head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. This prolonged activation of migraine pathways can make it difficult for the brain to return to its baseline state.

The exact reasons why an individual migraine attack progresses to status migrainosus are not fully understood. However, a combination of triggers may play a role, including stress, lack of sleep, skipping meals, changes in medication, and a flare up of other health conditions. Management often requires medical intervention to interrupt the cycle of symptoms and address contributing factors.

Status Migrainosus is a complex condition, but with appropriate treatment and prevention strategies, it can often be resolved, reducing the impact on daily life.

Botox treatment for chronic migraine is subsidized under the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) in Australia for adult patients who meet specific criteria:

  1. An average of 15 or more headache days per month, with at least 8 of those being migraine days, over at least 6 months.
  2. Inadequate response, intolerance, or contraindication to at least three migraine prophylactic medications.

To continue receiving PBS-covered Botox treatment, a neurologist must confirm a positive response after two treatment cycles (each lasting 12 weeks). A positive response is defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the number of monthly headache days by week 24.

If someone stops Botox treatment—for instance, to try a different approach or because their symptoms have improved—they can potentially resume treatment later. However, this would require a reassessment by a neurologist. If the individual once again meets the PBS criteria and the neurologist determines that Botox is an appropriate treatment option, it may be restarted.

Each case is unique, so consultation with a healthcare professional is essential to determine the best course of action regarding starting or stopping botox treatment.

Please view the government PBS website for current information regarding botox.