The Link Between Migraine Headache, Nausea, and Vomiting
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The Link Between Migraine, Nausea, and Vomiting

The Link Between Migraine, Nausea, and Vomiting
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Updated on November 24, 2025
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If you often feel queasy or lose your appetite at the start of a migraine attack, you're not alone.

According to research, up to half of people with migraine feel nauseous in at least half of their headache episodes.

Here are answers to some common questions about nausea and migraine.

Is Nausea a Side Effect of Migraine?

Nausea is a common symptom of migraine — so common that it’s part of the diagnostic criteria, according to Roderick Spears, MD, endowed chair of migraine and chief of the headache division at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Nausea doesn’t look the same for everyone with migraine. “In some people, if they have mild nausea, it might present as not having an appetite. They don’t want to eat, because they feel like they will get sick,” says Dr. Spears. “For more full-blown nausea, the person may be sweating, and if they don’t stop the migraine, they’re going to start vomiting.”

Is Nausea or Vomiting More Common With Any Specific Type of Migraine?

Nausea and vomiting can occur during a migraine attack with or without aura. Also, since every migraine is different, you may not always get symptoms during every stage.

Why Do You Get Nauseated During a Migraine Attack?

Nausea is a common symptom of migraine attacks.

“We don’t know exactly why some people experience nausea with migraine,” says Spears. Experts once thought that gastric stasis, which is when your stomach empties more slowly than normal, was the underlying cause of nausea in migraine. But some research suggests it may have the same cause as other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Issues related to the hormones serotonin and dopamine may play a role in nausea that happens with migraines. “Serotonin plays a role in the brain during a migraine attack, and there are a lot of serotonin receptors in the gut,” says Spears.

Can Throwing Up Help Relieve a Migraine Attack?

“There are some migraine patients, especially younger patients, who know that if they vomit during a migraine attack, it will actually abort the attack,” says Spears. It’s not entirely known why this is the case, although there are different theories.

While throwing up may help stop a migraine attack for some people, Spears doesn’t recommend trying to make yourself vomit. “The goal is to help patients avoid throwing up when that’s possible,” he says.

If you do vomit, make sure to drink water afterward to avoid dehydration.

 Get immediate medical care if you develop uncontrollable vomiting.

How Do You Relieve Nausea Caused by Migraine?

If you have nausea as a migraine symptom, talk with your doctor to make sure it’s part of your treatment plan.

“Almost all new migraine therapies treat what are called the ‘most bothersome symptoms,’ which include light sensitivity and sound sensitivity, along with nausea and vomiting,” says Spears.

A type of medication called triptans, for example, can stop a migraine attack and relieve many symptoms, including nausea.

 But triptans may also cause nausea for some people.

Other types of medications that can relieve nausea include anti-nausea medications and gepants, which also help reduce other migraine symptoms.

Can Eating Certain Foods or Skipping Meals Trigger Nausea or Migraine?

Eating certain foods or skipping meals might trigger migraine, which can then bring on nausea, says Spears. “It’s not as common for people to do something to cause nausea and then end up with a migraine attack on the back end; it’s only in a small percentage of patients that nausea would occur first,” he says.

The foods that might trigger a migraine attack vary from person to person, but they could include processed meats, hard cheeses, and foods high in preservatives, says Lauren Doyle Strauss, DO, associate professor and vice chair of clinical operations at the Children's Hospital of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

Skipping meals can also trigger migraine attacks due to low blood sugar. Because of this, it’s a good idea to eat three meals a day with snacks in between, according to Dr. Strauss. Eating more frequently can help balance blood sugar levels and prevent a migraine bout.

Can Nausea Make Oral Migraine Treatments Less Effective?

In some cases, yes: Nausea can decrease the effectiveness of acute migraine treatments taken by mouth, says Spears.

Early nausea can also be a sign of other GI issues that may make oral medications less effective.

 “This may lead to delayed or incomplete absorption of an oral drug. If this is suspected, it’s better to use non-oral drugs,” says Simona Sacco, MD, a professor of neurology at the University of L’Aquila and the director of the neurology and stroke unit at Avezzano Hospital in Italy.
Non-oral migraine treatment options include dissolvable tablets taken by mouth, nasal sprays, and injections, says Spears.

 Even though dissolvable tablets are taken orally, they are considered a non-oral medication.

The Takeaway

  • Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of migraine. They can occur with any migraine type, although you might not experience them during every episode.
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, that occur with migraine may be linked to levels of the hormones serotonin.
  • Some common medications that treat migraine can also help relieve nausea. Nasal sprays, dissolvable tablets, and other non-oral medications may be more effective if you experience nausea with migraine attacks.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Villar-Martinez MD et al. Pathophysiology and Therapy of Associated Features of Migraine. Cells. September 5, 2022.
  2. Migraine. Mayo Clinic. July 8, 2025.
  3. Migraine Headaches. Cleveland Clinic. January 23, 2024.
  4. Managing Migraines at Home. MedlinePlus. December 31, 2023.
  5. Migraine. Mayo Clinic. July 8, 2025.
  6. Migraine. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. January 31, 2025.
  7. Lew C et al. Migraine Medications. StatPearls. May 1, 2023.
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Huma Sheikh, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Huma U. Sheikh, MD, is an assistant professor at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and was previously a clinical instructor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital–Harvard Medical School. She completed her neurology residency at Montefiore Medical Center, where she also completed a stroke fellowship before going on to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for a fellowship in Headache Medicine. She is the co-chair of the Women's Issues in Migraine at the American Headache Society.

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Becky Upham has worked throughout the health and wellness world for over 25 years. She's been a race director, a team recruiter for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical company, a blogger for Moogfest, a communications manager for Mission Health, a fitness instructor, and a health coach.

Upham majored in English at the University of North Carolina and has a master's in English writing from Hollins University.

Upham enjoys teaching cycling classes, running, reading fiction, and making playlists.

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