If you’ve ever had a migraine that just wouldn’t go away—lasting for days instead of hours—you might have experienced something called status migrainosus (pronounced stay-tus my-gray-no-sus). It’s a complicated name for a condition that many people with migraines find incredibly frustrating, painful, and even frightening. Let’s break down what status migrainosus is, how it differs from a typical migraine, and what you can do if it happens to you.
What Is Status Migrainosus?
Most migraines last anywhere from four to 72 hours. They may come with the usual symptoms—pulsating head pain, nausea, light or sound sensitivity—and then eventually fade away with rest, medication, or time.
But status migrainosus is a different beast. It’s a migraine attack that lasts longer than 72 hours (that’s three days or more) and doesn’t respond well to your usual treatments. In fact, some people end up in the emergency room because the pain becomes too intense or unmanageable. Status migrainosus is considered a neurological emergency. It’s not just “a really bad migraine”—it’s a chronic migraine flare-up that can disrupt every aspect of your life.
What Causes Status Migrainosus?
There isn’t always a clear cause for status migrainosus, but several factors may trigger or contribute to it, including:
- Stress or lack of sleep.
- Hormonal changes, like those during menstruation or menopause.
- Changes in medication, especially stopping migraine medications suddenly.
- Dehydration or skipped meals.
- Weather changes or exposure to strong smells or bright lights.
For some people, a status migrainosus episode can come seemingly out of nowhere—one minute you’re dealing with your “usual” migraine, and the next, you’re stuck in a prolonged state of pain that just won’t ease up.
How Do You Know If It’s Status Migrainosus?
If you’ve had a migraine for more than 72 hours, and it’s not improving despite using your typical medication or home remedies, it may be status migrainosus. Other red flags include:
- Pain that severely disrupts your daily life.
- Inability to eat or sleep due to pain or nausea.
- Dehydration from vomiting.
- New or worsening neurological symptoms, such as vision changes or trouble speaking.
If you think you might be experiencing status migrainosus, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider right away. They can help determine whether it’s a migraine or something more serious (like a stroke), and guide you toward appropriate treatment.
How Is Status Migrainosus Treated?
Treatment for status migrainosus often depends on how severe your symptoms are and what medications you’ve already tried. Options might include:
- IV fluids and medications in a hospital setting.
- Steroids to reduce inflammation.
- Anti-nausea medications.
- Pain relievers, though caution is needed to avoid overuse.
- Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs), such as greater occipital nerve (GON) blocks, use small injections near specific nerves to help block pain signals and provide relief.
- Neuromodulation therapies, which target the nervous system to reduce migraine pain.
Finding Relief with gammaCore™
If you’re dealing with frequent migraines or worried about status migrainosus, you’re not alone—and there are new ways to find relief that don’t rely on medications alone.
One option is gammaCore™ non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS), a handheld device that uses gentle electrical stimulation to activate the vagus nerve, a key pathway involved in migraine and pain signaling. gammaCore nVNS is FDA-cleared for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine and cluster headache, and it can be used yourself at home, without drugs or invasive procedures. Many people who use gammaCore report shorter, less intense migraine attacks, and some even say they recover more quickly from prolonged episodes. Needless to say, gammaCore can be a valuable tool in your migraine toolbox, especially if you’ve struggled to find consistent relief through traditional medications.
To see if gammaCore is right for you, visit our clinic finder to locate a health care provider near you, or contact our dedicated Customer Experience team at 888-903-2673 or customerservice@electrocore.com.
