Having a migraine can be a debilitating experience that causes you to wonder how it will last. While the exact timeframe of an attack is different for everyone and for each attack, the result can be the same — excruciating pain, disrupted sleep, and canceled plans.

Knowing the specific phases of a migraine and how long each may last can help you prepare and know what to expect. Here’s an overview of the stages of a migraine, how long each phase may last, and when you should seek immediate care.

What Are the Primary Phases of a Migraine?

Headache specialists usually define a migraine attack by four distinct phases, though not everyone will experience every phase. It can also be hard to tell these phases apart. Each stage can vary in length and severity. Stages can be different each time a migraine happen.

🗳️ How often does the headache phase of a migraine last more than a day for you?

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This unpredictability can be very challenging for those with migraine. But knowing what to expect can help you detect a migraine attack early, get treatment, or even prevent symptoms.

Here’s a breakdown of the four stages of a migraine, including:

• Prodrome
• Aura
• Headache
• Postdrome

Prodrome

Sometimes referred to as the preheadache phase or the warning stage, the prodrome phase can start hours to days before a headache begins. About 60 percent of people will experience the prodromal phase for approximately 24 hours.

While everyone will experience prodrome differently, some have reported feeling fatigued, having trouble concentrating, being sensitive to light, and experiencing mood changes. Nausea, yawning, and food cravings can also happen.

During this phase, pay attention to what you’re feeling and document it if you can. These early symptoms can be important clues that help you learn to treat your migraine attack early before it escalates.

Aura

While not everyone will experience an aura with migraine, up to one-third of people report aura with a migraine attack. An aura can include visual disturbances like seeing geometric patterns, flashing lights, or blind spots. It’s usually seen with both eyes.

You may also experience ringing in your ears, dizziness or vertigo, and a pins and needles sensation.

Auras can last from five minutes to 60 minutes, sometimes longer. Some people will experience an aura before a headache, and some will have these sensations during a headache. But some people will never develop a headache at all. This is called a migraine aura without headache.

Headache

The headache phase is described as throbbing pain that can be moderate to severe. This pain can happen on one or both sides of your head and can shift as time passes. You may also experience nausea, insomnia, sensitivity to light and smells, anxiety, and vomiting.

During this phase, movement and everyday activities can aggravate your headache pain and make it worse. You can expect this phase of a migraine attack to last between four and 72 hours.

Postdrome

This phase, sometimes called the migraine hangover, happens after the headache has ended. Not everyone with migraine will experience postdrome, but most do. In fact, about 80 percent of people have a postdromal phase, which can be just as draining as the headache phase.

Symptoms may include fatigue, trouble concentrating, dizziness, light sensitivity, body aches, and mood changes. It usually takes hours to days for the symptoms of postdrome to go away.

You may be able to lessen your symptoms by reducing your stress and drinking plenty of water. Some people have found that relaxing activities like meditation and yoga can be helpful too.

How Often Does Migraine Occur?

If you have headaches more than 15 days a month for three months, and experience migraine symptoms at least eight of those days, you could have chronic migraine. Meanwhile, episodic migraine happens 14 days a month or less, but it can become chronic if it’s not managed or treated.

About 3 percent to 5 percent of people in the United States experience chronic migraine. Keep track of your headache days and symptoms in a headache journal or with a migraine tracker app. Then, share this information with your healthcare provider to help determine your treatment.

Join the Conversation

On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

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