Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Migraines Cause NauseaTypesHome RemediesOTC TherapiesPrescription MedicationComplementary MedicinePrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Migraines Cause Nausea
Types
Home Remedies
OTC Therapies
Prescription Medication
Complementary Medicine
Prevention
Between 20% and 50% of people withmigrainesexperience nausea and vomiting with some or all of their episodes.For many adults with migraines, nausea is one of the most distressing symptoms and one that tends to accompany severe migraine attacks.
While migraine-related nausea can be managed, it can be challenging as medications may be hard to swallow when you feel like vomiting. Some of the more effective treatments include prescription antiemetics, ginger, peppermint oil, and acupressure. Migraines may also be prevented with lifestyle changes, prescription medications, and the avoidance ofmigraine triggers.
This article discusses the causes of nausea with migraines. It also offers tips on how to get fast relief with home remedies, over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, and alternative therapies.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Why Do Migraines Cause Nausea?
The underlying cause of migraines is poorly understood as is the cause of migraine-related nausea. However, there are theories as to why migraine triggers nausea in some people.
The trigeminal nerve is the largestcranial nervetasked with sending pain, touch, and temperature sensations from your face to your brain. During a migraine attack, the activation of the nerve causes the sudden dilation and/or inflammation of local blood vessels that lead to headache pain along with blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light, sound, or noise.
Migraine Self-Care: Diet, Avoiding Triggers, and More
Trigeminal Hyperstimulation and Nausea
When the trigeminal nerve is hyperstimulated during a migraine attack, it also shoots out nerve impulses to themedulla oblongata. This is the part of the brain that contains nerves that function as the sensory relay station between the brain and thegastrointestinal tract(which runs from the mouth and stomach to the rectum).
The abrupt activation of the medulla oblongata sends the same “alarm” signals that might occur if you ate something toxic, triggering the emetic (vomiting) reflex.
The activation of the trigeminal nerve may also cause the sudden dilation of blood vessels servicing theinner ear. This can disrupt thevestibular system, the system of ear organs responsible forproprioception(the sense of where your body is in space) and balance. The disruption of the system can lead tovertigo(spinning sensations) and the onset of nausea.
Types of Migraines That Trigger Nausea
Nausea can theoretically occur with any severe migraine attack but is most common with a type of migraine called avestibular migraine.
Vertigo is a common cause of nausea as it inducesmotion sickness. Motion sickness occurs when your brain can’t make sense of information being sent from your eyes, ears, or body, leading to stomach queasiness, nausea, and vomiting.
Vestibular migraines affect females more than males.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
There are some simple things you can do on your own that may help your migraine-related nausea:
It can also help to just let yourself vomit. This can provide relief from the uncomfortable sensation of nausea.
Childhood migraines, on the other hand, may involveonlynausea and vomiting. In fact, children often do not have headaches or other migraine symptoms.
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Over-the-counter (OTC) therapies can help ease nausea. These includedrugs that are used for treating motion sickness, such as:
These drugs can also help other migraine symptoms, like dizziness.
Motion sickness drugs usually work better for migraine-related nausea than OTC treatments typically used for stomach issues.
That said, you could also try:
If you have severe nausea with your migraines, your doctor may suggest a prescription-strength drug. Some options include:
These medications help with nausea and are available in various forms, including:
Sometimes anti-nausea prescriptions are used to treat migraines even when nausea is not a major symptom.
Anti-Nausea Medications Used for Migraine
Several migraine medications like Imitrex (sumatriptan), Zomig (zolmitriptan), and Migranal (dihydroergotamine) are available in other forms, such as:
If you’re severely nauseated, this can make them easier to take.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Alternative therapies can also be beneficial for migraine symptoms, including nausea.
Ginger
Ginger is a common natural treatment for nausea.
There are a few different ways to take it:
Easing Nausea With Ginger
Acupressure
Acupressureis an alternative medicine practice that comes from Chinese medicine. It involves the use of pressure points to relieve health problems. There is evidence that stimulating acupressure point PC6 on the forearm can decrease migraine-related nausea.
To find this point, position your arm with the palm facing you. Place three fingers horizontally at the base of your palm. Just below your fingers, feel for the two tendons in the center of your forearm. The PC6 pressure point is in the middle of those two tendons.
A Sea-Band is a wristband that puts continuous pressure on this acupressure point. Try using one on each wrist to help relieve nausea during a migraine attack.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves inhaling concentrated essential oils. It is generally considered safe, but studies supporting its effectiveness are limited. So far, it has not been scientifically proven to relieve migraine-associated nausea.Still, some people do find it helpful.
Popular oils used for migraine-related nausea includelavender oiland eucalyptus oil.
Cannabis
Medical marijuana (cannabis) has been used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in states where it is legal. So far the data is not clear regarding its effect on migraine-associated nausea.
Even so, some research suggests that cannabis may help reduce migraine attacks. A four-year study involving 120 adults with migraines found that the frequency of attacks was reduced from roughly 10 per month to four after medical marijuana was prescribed.
Some studies also suggest that the non-psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, calledcannabidiol (CBD), may be useful in preventing migraines and may even help abort an impending attack. Using CBD may also be beneficial as it won’t lead to cannabis overuse headaches that can sometimes affect frequent cannabis users.
There are currently no guidelines for the appropriate use of cannabis or CBD in the treatment of migraines. While more people are usingcannabis for a variety of health issues, make sure you know the laws in your area. There may be legal consequences of using cannabis or cannabis-derived CBD in states where it is prohibited.
Alternative therapies pose different safety concerns. Always ask your doctor before trying any alternative treatment for your migraine-related nausea.
Clearly, the best way to avoid migraine-induced nausea is to avoid migraines in the first place. Here are three ways to do so:
Summary
Many people with migraines also experience nausea during an attack. Fortunately, there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help with this distressing symptom.
Simple home remedies like staying hydrated and applying ice can be helpful, too. Some people also get relief from alternative medicine therapies like acupressure or aromatherapy.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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