Epilepsyandmigraineare complex brain disorders, and having one increases your chance of having the other.
Despite being distinct conditions, epilepsy and migraine share several features, including triggers, symptoms, and treatments.
These similarities perhaps provide insight into how the two disorders are connected.
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This article explores the relationship between epilepsy and migraine, including how they can be managed simultaneously.
A migraine may even trigger a seizure in rare instances.
These episodes can occur spontaneously or be triggered by an environmental factor.
Migraine headachesare throbbing and can be felt on one side of the head or both.
They may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or noise.
Ictal headaches are overall not as common as postictal headaches.
Aura as a Symptom
Another symptom, an aura, may occur with seizures and migraine attacks.
(e.g., ringing or buzzing sounds in both ears).
This complication of migraine is classified as amigraine aura-triggered seizureby the International Headache Society.
Experts haven’t teased out precisely why having epilepsy increases the risk of migraine and vice versa.
It doesn’t appear that one condition directly causes the other.
Instead, environmental factors like brain injury probably explain some cases of coexisting epilepsy and migraine.
Genetic factors may also play a role.
Many of these genetic mutations lead to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory chemicals in the brain.
This chemical imbalance plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and migraine.
That said, they may have compounding psychological effects.
Topamax(topiramate)and Depakote (valproate) are two prime examples.
These medications are used for migraine prevention, although they were initially developed for epilepsy.
Migraine-prevention medicationhelps reduce the number and severity of migraines.
Likewise, anti-seizure medications are intended to reduce the number or severity of a person’s seizures.
Such medications can cause varying side effects and must be taken daily to be effective.
Keep in mind that an anti-seizure medication is ineffective at treating acute migraine attacks.
Acute migraines are treated with anonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)like Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen).
More severe or persistent migraine attacks may require a triptan, such as Imitrex (sumatriptan).
However, similar preventive strategies can help you control both disorders.
Healthy Lifestyle
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can also improve your seizure and migraine control.
Such habits include:
Summary
Epilepsy and migraine are brain conditions with overlapping features.
Having epilepsy increases your chances of developing migraine and vice versa.
Complex genetic and environmental factors likely explain why the conditions sometimes coexist.
There is no evidence that one directly causes the other.
Besides sharing triggers and symptoms, certain medications can treat both conditions simultaneously.
Healthy lifestyle habits that avoid triggers may also help.
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