Migraine episodes may last anywhere from a few hours to multiple days. Seek medical attention if your symptoms last longer.
How long will a migraine episode last?
A migraine attack typically lasts from 4 to 72 hoursTrusted Source but can also last longer. It can be difficult to predict how long an individual episode will last, but charting its progress may help.
Migraine episodes can usually be divided into four or five distinct stages. Not all people with migraine experience each of these phases during each episode. Phases can include:
- warning or premonitory phase
- aura (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)
- headache, or main attack
- resolution period
- recovery or postdrome stage (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)
Some of these phases may only last briefly, whereas others may last much longer. You may not experience each phase with every episode you have. Keeping a migraine journal can help you track any patterns and prepare for what’s to come.
Keep reading to learn more about each stage, what you can do to find relief, and when to see a doctor.
What to expect during the prodrome (warning) phase
Sometimes, migraine can begin with symptoms that have absolutely nothing to do with a headache.
These symptoms can include:
- craving certain foods
- increased thirst
- stiff neck
- irritability or other mood changes
- fatigue
- anxiety
Premonitory symptoms can last anywhere from 1 to 24 hours before the aura or headache phases begin.
What to expect during the aura phase
About 25%Trusted Source of people with migraine experience aura. Aura symptoms typically happen before the headache, or main attack, occurs. It often occurs 10 to 30 minutesTrusted Source before the headache pain begins.
Aura symptoms can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour.
Aura can include a wide range of neurological symptoms. You may see:
- colored spots
- dark spots
- sparkles or “stars”
- flashing lights
- zigzag lines
- “heat waves”
You may feel:
- numbness or tingling
- weakness
- dizziness
- anxiety or confusion
You may also experience disturbances in speech and hearing. In rare cases, fainting and partial paralysis are possible.
Although these symptoms usually precede a migraine headache in adults, it’s possible for them to occur at the same time. Children may be more likely to experience an aura at the same time as their headache.
In some cases, aura symptoms may come and go without ever leading to a headache.
What to expect during the headache phase
Most casesTrusted Source of migraine aren’t accompanied by aura symptoms. Migraine without aura moves directly from the warning stage into the headache stage.
Headache symptoms are typically the same for migraine with and without aura. They may include:
- pulsing pain on one or both sides of your head
- sensitivity to light, noise, odors, or even touch
- blurred vision
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- lightheadedness
- worsening pain with physical activity or other movement
During a migraine attack, many people may be unable to work or continue with their usual daily activities.
This phase is the most unpredictable, with episodes lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days.