Why throwing up relieves a migraine headache

Hi Ken, I usually don't throw up. I get "common migraine." I feel nauseated but I don't throw up. Do you throw up voluntarily or does this just happen by chance? I hope someone comes along who has experienced this too.

Ann, thanks for reply. I no longer have the vomiting as I stop my migraine with Imetrix or Zomig(by mouth) at the first signs. But prior these medications, after vomiting my migraine was instantly gone. That's what I am trying to find an answer to as this seems to me to be a possible clue as to what actually caused the migrains in me. Weird disease - and I thank God everyday for these medications as my quality of life has increased beyond hope. In the last several years it appears that people are finally getting the idea that weather fronts are a real culprit. I used to get so upset at doctors that thought I was crazy mentioning weather fronts as a trigger. Hope the Imetrix injections continue to work for you. Any relief/hope is a Godsend.

Ken

I've had the same thing happen to me. I usually get pretty nauseaus with a full blown migraine, and a few times I've actually vomited (once was at a state park...I was trying to hike up a waterfall with my husband....don't ask). After vomiting, the headache was magically gone....although I remember being extremely tired afterward. I have heard that vomiting is a vascular deconstrictant and helps with migraine symptoms for that reason. I just did a google search on it, and found nothing....so I can't really back this claim up. I sort of like to think that the nausea/vomiting is my body's own way of fighting the migraine. However, I don't let them get to that point anymore.

Good luck!

My understanding is you throw up because the pain is so bad and that the bodies response to the pain.
When I start throwing up it can go one of two ways... either I start to get better.... or I get worse and cant stop throwing up and end up in the ER because I can get dehydraded. I usually try to prevent myself from getting to this stage. Promethazine is a great drug to help with the nausea.

My 11yr. old son has been having very quick onset migraines. Within 30 to 45min. he will vomit and the headache is magically gone. I have a history of migraines ( my father has the black out type). I also have Multiple Sclerosis. I am concerned that there may be something more to this than just a headache. I would love to hear from anyone who has children that have had this problem or even adults. I never vomit with my migraines eventhough I get nauseated... Thanks

I have had many migraine attacks that if I move my head even a little,I will start vomiting and not be able to stop for hours. So,I have learned to keep Dramamine on hand. I take it as soon as my pain level starts going up. You have to be careful not to get dehydrated and of course vomiting will do that.
I have also actually thought my head would explode with the pressure of both the pain and the vomiting.

I have been suffering from migraine headaches since I was a little kid. I was hit by a car at the age of 3, and have had bad headaches ever since. However, migraines definitely run in my family. My migraines do not come with any warnings, other than a piercing headache that keeps getting worse, and no amount of drugs will help them. I suffer a lot of different kinds of headaches, from exertion headaches, to dull throbbing ones that last for days/weeks at a time, and of course the horrendous migraines. Oh yes, and I'm very sensitive to smells as well, and certain smells can give me an instant headache... some smells like tar for roofing and roads, certain perfumes/colognes, and anything in an aerosol can.

Most of these headaches though tiring, and sometimes very painful, they don't hold a candle to the vicious migraines I get. I have never noticed any links to my headaches... nothing I eat or drink trigger them... but stress plays a big part in them. Everyone has different remedies, but I agree whole heartedly with devo that you should try and throw up, but please, please... make sure you do have something in your stomach. I have only ever found relief from my migraines when I puke my guts out... and yes, even as mentioned, a *poop* can help too. If my migraine is very severe then my body will do this automatically. I don't have to make myself sick, as I always end up puking, and I will have to go *poop* too. It's almost like my body is ridding itself of a toxic poison, and uses the two avenues available. If my headache is bad quickly, I will often make myself sick, just to get the relief that much quicker.

Okay, so here's where I differ... over the years I have found myself in absolute agony laying on the cold bathroom floor, waiting for the next wave to send me over the toilet again. And have often become very cold... so I've taken my hair dryer and used it to get warm quickly when I get back into bed. And strangely enough, using the heat on my forehead, and back of my neck... while trying to knead out the hard knot my neck becomes. I often throw up 2 - 4 times, and use the hair dryer in between, and it really helps me for some strange reason. The noise doesn't bother me because I find white noise very soothing.

Now saying all this, I had a migraine 2 nights ago (mine almost always happen at night, the very bad ones anyways) that was a little different for me. I felt my head start to throb about 10:30pm and went and took a very hot bath to soak my aches away, and was so exhausted, that I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, after the bath. I awoke about 3.5 hours later with one of the worst migraines I've ever had. I went from opening my eyes, to absolutely needing to puke within minutes. And unfortunately, my stomach was indeed empty, but I was throwing up so violently, that I could not stop to aid myself. Usually I'll just keep drinking water, as it's the easiest stuff to come back up for me. So, I was throwing up violently about 3 times, and yep... *pooping* too! It was not fun! I always get relief when I'm finally finished throwing up... this might just be the once, or can be many more. But I still use my hair dryer, and it lulls me to sleep... and yes, I always turn it off before that happens. LOL

So, I woke up a few hours later, and felt like absolute crap! I think because it was the only time my stomach has been that empty that it really took a toll on my body. I felt my guts a mess the next day, and a lot of the same feelings you have with a hangover, I had that day. Usually after I wake up from one of my migraine episodes, I feel like a million bucks! Not so this time. So, if you can... please try and vomit, but make sure you keep drinking water or something.

its funny cause i have suffered with migraines since i was about 4 years old but each one is never the same as the last . I have found it really depends on what sort of migraine it is or more where the centre of the pain is. I find when i am experiencing one that is really behind the eye that i involuntarily vomit which will do one of two things , one it either exhausts me to the point where i pass out thus getting the rest i need to fight it , or it removes whatever is in my system that is making me sick , must admit though , throwing up with a migraine feels a bit like ur head is about to explode from the inside out

I've been suffering from migraines for my entire life (my dad gets them, too) and it's only been in the past few years that I've realized that vomiting puts an end to them. At around 18, my migraines started making me nauseous and I would involuntarily vomit, and now I know that after vomiting the pain subsides.  At some level, I feel that my migraines are my body's way of telling me that there's something in my body that shouldn't be there and my migraine will continue until it's expelled. 

I have tried multiple prescription medications, as well as over the counter, and they seem to only delay the effects of my migraine.  I might not get a migraine that day, but I will wake up with it in the middle of the night, or have it the next day.  Medications really only help me if there's something I need to get through that day.  Most of the time, I just "ride it out" with ice bags, darkness and quiet. 

I have multiple triggers: overexposure to sunlight (think laying on the beach for the day), loud music, aspartame, sleeping in for too long on the weekends, unrefined greens (broccoli rabe, kale, collard greens), and I believe hormonal birth control also gave me migraines.  My digestive health also can impact my migraines.  If I'm excited about an upcoming event, I think I can also stress myself out to the point of a migraine.

I've changed my lifestyle in the past year and actually have almost completely eliminated my migraines.  I try to only eat whole foods, nothing processed or packaged, and get enough light exercise (usually walking).  I keep to the same sleep schedule, even on the weekends and have been mostly migraine free.

Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by severe headache with some episodes of nausea. They are typically unilateral and pulsating lasting for a 4 to 72 hours. There are possible ways of relieving migraine headaches like exercise, good sleeping, relaxed environment etc but these are long process. There are many commonly used medicines for mild to moderate migraine attacks.

I have edited your post and would point you to the forum rules about advertising. Ann

Post Edited By Moderator (Annuk) : 2/9/2011 9:03:59 AM (GMT-7)

That's horrible! I hope the neuro is able to give you something that helps. Maybe Ann can chime in here. She's the cluster headache guru.

I really wonder if you have a rare headache/migraine variant. It's called Cyclic Migraine (and it is often misdiagnosed as cluster).

Here is a link that describes treatment options (it often doesn't respond to the standard migraine preventatives particularly well):

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/headaches/hic_less_frequently_encountered_headache_types.aspx

According to the website, first line treatments include lithium and indocin.

I hope the appointment goes well!

Post Edited (EvilFluorescents) : 2/24/2011 10:40:01 AM (GMT-7)

seam.by.seam has described exactly how my migraines are. I don't get many either. November 2010 and early February 2011 have been when I had the last two. They are debilitating as I can't move, talk or respond to anything without having to throw-up. Usually dry reaching until I finally throw-up bile. This process takes at least 6 hours from when I wake up with a mild headache which quickly intensifies into a raging one. I can not take anything for the headache or even drink water, I just throw-up. Lying in bed if I lie on my side and roll over to the other side this also causes me to throw-up. I just write the day off as I am totally useless. about an hour after throwing up the bile, I try to sip water a little at a time. Finally, at the end of the day I come good.

After the February headache I finally went to the doctor to try and find out why I get these horrible headaches. The doctor has prescribed medication in the form of a wafer that I am meant to place under my tongue when I feel this headache coming on. To date, fortunately, I have not had to use it.

It will be interesting if this works, although I'm not in a hurry to try it out.

Post Edited (di dee) : 4/9/2011 2:25:14 AM (GMT-6)