Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link?

There can be. Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting are common with migraine attacks. Less commonly, diarrhea may occur. In younger children, recurrent bouts of vomiting (cyclical vomiting) or abdominal pain (abdominal migraine) — referred to as childhood periodic syndromes — also are associated with migraines. Although childhood periodic syndromes usually aren't accompanied by migraine head pain, they're considered a form of migraine. In many cases, childhood periodic syndromes evolve into more typical migraine headaches around the time a child reaches puberty. In addition, some medications to prevent or treat migraines may cause nausea or vomiting in some people.

A 2008 study from Norway examined the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and migraine. The study showed a higher prevalence of headaches among people who regularly experience gastrointestinal symptoms — such as reflux, diarrhea, constipation and nausea — compared with those who do not. Results of this study suggest that people who get frequent headaches may be predisposed to gastrointestinal problems. However, more research is needed to understand the connection between migraines and gastrointestinal symptoms.

If you experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea with your headaches, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Treating the headache usually relieves gastrointestinal symptoms. However, in some cases, an anti-nausea or anti-diarrheal medication may be recommended. Keep in mind that some over-the-counter pain medications are more likely to cause stomach upset than are others. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) is generally a good choice because it doesn't cause stomach irritation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others), are more likely to cause stomach upset.