From the Research
Diarrhea is not typically considered a common symptom before a migraine, though it can occur in some individuals as part of the prodrome phase. Most people with migraines experience more characteristic prodromal symptoms such as mood changes, food cravings, fatigue, neck stiffness, or sensitivity to light and sound before a headache begins. Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with migraines more commonly include nausea and vomiting rather than diarrhea, particularly during the headache phase itself, as noted in a study from 1995 1. However, the digestive system and brain are connected through the gut-brain axis, which explains why some people might experience digestive disturbances including diarrhea before or during a migraine attack.
Some key points to consider:
- The most common gastrointestinal symptoms associated with migraines are nausea and vomiting, not diarrhea, as reported in a study from 1995 1.
- Diarrhea can occur in some individuals as part of the prodrome phase, but it is not a typical symptom, and its occurrence is not well-documented in the literature.
- Managing migraine triggers and maintaining regular eating habits may help reduce both migraine frequency and associated digestive symptoms, as suggested by various studies, including one from 2018 2.
- If you consistently notice diarrhea preceding your migraines, it's worth documenting this pattern in a headache diary and discussing it with your healthcare provider, as it could be part of your personal migraine pattern or potentially related to another condition.
It's essential to note that while some studies, such as the one from 1998 3, report cases of abdominal migraine with diarrhea, these are not representative of the typical migraine experience. The most recent and highest quality studies, such as the one from 2018 2, focus on treatment strategies for acute migraine headache and do not mention diarrhea as a common symptom. Therefore, the current evidence suggests that diarrhea is not a common symptom before a migraine, and other gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting are more prevalent.