Vestibular migraine is a neurological disorder that may cause common migraine symptoms along with vertigo and balance issues. There’s no cure for it. But medication and treatment may prevent episodes or ease symptoms. Certain things may trigger an episode. Understanding and avoiding those triggers may reduce vestibular migraine episodes.
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Vestibular migraine is a rare neurological disease that causes vertigo. It can make you feel lightheaded and dizzy. You may struggle to keep your balance during an episode.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Experts estimate that about 3% of adults have this disease. People often learn they have it after seeking medical care for dizziness and balance issues. Other names for this disease are:
There’s no cure. But medication and lifestyle changes may prevent vestibular migraine episodes or ease symptoms.
A vestibular migraine may cause symptoms that include:
Vestibular migraine may cause headaches that feel like the ones you experience with a common migraine.
This disease develops when there’s unusual activity in the parts or pathways of your brain that manage balance and pain. Having a history of migraines, including childhood migraines, increases your risk. Other issues that can trigger an episode include:
A healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, especially whether you have severe vertigo and how often it occurs. They’ll ask if you have migraine or a biological family history of the disease. They may do the following tests:
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Your provider will also rule out other potential causes. Other issues, like Ménière’s disease, may cause vestibular migraine symptoms.
Your provider may decide you have vestibular migraine if you experience:
Vestibular migraines are rare. You may want to ask your provider questions like:
Healthcare providers can’t cure this disease. But there are treatments and lifestyle changes that may prevent episodes or make your symptoms less noticeable.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications that you would take every day or once a week. Medications that may prevent episodes include:
Medications that may ease symptoms include:
Your healthcare provider will explain how specific medications may prevent vestibular migraine episodes or manage symptoms. They’ll discuss how often and for how long you’ll take them. Some medications may have side effects. Take time to learn how taking certain medications may help or affect you.
This treatment involves exercises to help you manage dizziness and balance issues that vestibular migraine may cause.
Issues like fatigue, stress and reactions to certain foods can trigger vestibular migraine symptoms. Understanding and avoiding triggers may make the symptoms less noticeable. Lifestyle changes include:
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Some people may need medication or another treatment to prevent episodes or manage symptoms. Sometimes self-care, like getting more rest, managing what you eat and being more active, eases vestibular migraine symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider to explain how treatment and lifestyle changes may have a long-term impact.
Vestibular migraine adds vertigo, dizziness and balance issues to the list of migraine symptoms that can make you feel miserable and upend your daily routine. There’s no cure for this disease. But as with common migraines, there are ways to manage it. For example, medications may prevent episodes or ease symptoms. So can getting more rest, avoiding food triggers and being active.
Talk to a healthcare provider if you have a history of migraines and notice new symptoms, like being dizzy or unsteady on your feet. They’ll do tests to confirm you have vestibular migraine. Then, they’ll recommend the treatment and self-care strategies that are right for you.
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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders can make you feel unsteady on your feet. Cleveland Clinic’s experts can craft a treatment plan that works for you.
