Migraine symptoms appear during the migraine attack; the attack can be divided into four stages, but remember that not everyone experiences all the stages.

The warning stage – appears before any symptoms; this stage is experienced by about ½ of migraine patients. At this stage you may feel irritated, nervous, depressed, overly energetic. These feelings last for a few hours or even days before the migraine attack.

Aura, transient neurological disorders. The most common are visual symptoms such as bright or flashing light, coloured zigzag lines, blank spots in front of the eyes, usually one-sided. Rarely, there may be sensory symptoms such as a stabbing or tingling sensation in one hand with an upward character from the fingers up to one side of the face. The aura can also manifest with temporary speech disorders. The aura lasts for 10-30 minutes, but often can also be longer.

The aura is followed by a pronounced headache of a pulsating nature, usually unilateral, but possibly also bilateral. The location of a headache can differ, but is more often reported in the forehead and temples. When a headache begins, there is a desire to avoid light, sounds, as well as daily activities, which only increase the already severe headache. Nausea and vomiting may also occur at this stage.

At the moment when the headache subsides, concentration problems, irritability, fatigue, depression are possible.

Symptoms associated with migraine: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sounds.