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Vestibular migraine causes symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo that can be triggered by movement
Neurologists may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or triptans for vestibular migraines to help control or reduce symptoms. Other medications may include:
- Vestibular suppressants to treat headache and vertigo
- Antiemetics to treat severe nausea
- Antihistamines to treat dizziness
- Venlafaxine, topiramate, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to prevent and treat migraine symptoms
What is a vestibular migraine?
The vestibular system consists of the organs in the inner ear responsible for balance, helping the body remain stable, walk, and focus the eyes on targets.
A vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that affects the vestibular system and thus balance, causing symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo that can be triggered by movement. Unlike traditional migraines, headache may not always be a symptom of this type of migraine.
What causes vestibular migraines?
While there are many potential causes, vestibular migraine may be due to inflammation that occurs in the vestibular system or a predisposition to be hypersensitive to motion. It can occur in the following cases:
- Vestibular symptoms in someone who already has a history of migraines
- Both migraine and vestibular symptoms start at the same time
Just like traditional migraines, vestibular migraine may stem from sudden vasodilation in the head/neck.face area due to the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (a pain mediator) from the trigeminal nerve or serotonin (a neurotransmitter) fluctuations.
If vestibular symptoms and headache occur after trauma to the head or neck, the diagnosis should be post-traumatic headache.
What can trigger vestibular migraines?
Common triggers may include:
- Stress and anxiety
- Foods or drinks including caffeine, alcohol or dairy products
- Not enough sleep or too much sleep
- Environmental factors, such as bright artificial lights
- Hormonal changes, such as during menstruation
What are symptoms of vestibular migraine?
Symptoms of vestibular migraine may include:
- Vertigo (spinning sensation) or feelings of instability and problems with coordination
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Numbness or tingling
- Vision problems
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Discomfort turning, bending down or looking up
- Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
- Flashing lights, spots or blurring
Symptoms may vary in severity. Some people may experience an aura, which include warning signs that vestibular symptoms are about to occur.
What can help prevent vestibular migraine?
You can take certain preventative measures to reduce the severity or frequency of vestibular migraine symptoms:
