A prodrome is an early warning sign that a migraine may be on its way. It can appear hours, or even a day or two, before the headache itself starts. Many people do not realise they are having one until they look back later. Learning to spot your own prodrome is one of the most useful things you can do.
What a prodrome can look like
Prodromes are different for everyone. Some of the most common signs are:
- Yawning a lot, even when you are not tired.
- Sudden food cravings, often for something sweet or salty.
- Mood changes: feeling unusually low, irritable, or weirdly cheerful.
- A stiff or sore neck, often without a clear reason.
- Feeling thirsty or going to the toilet more often.
- Tiredness that does not match what you have been doing.
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling slightly fuzzy.
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell in a quiet way, before the headache.
- Constipation or loose stools.
- A sense of euphoria or unusual energy, sometimes the day before.
Most people have two or three signs that they consistently get. Once you know yours, they are like a personal weather forecast.
How long before the headache?
Prodromes usually appear between 2 and 48 hours before the pain. The most common window is the evening before, or the morning of the migraine.
Why do prodromes happen?
The brain begins to change before the headache itself. Areas that control mood, hunger, thirst, and sleep are some of the first to be affected. This is why so many prodrome signs are about things like cravings, yawning, and mood. The brain is, in effect, getting ready.
This also explains a common misunderstanding. People sometimes think the chocolate they craved gave them the migraine. In fact, it may have been the prodrome that made them want the chocolate in the first place. The migraine was already on its way.
Logging a prodrome in MigraineMe
You can log your prodrome separately from the migraine itself.
- On the Home screen, tap the Prodrome button in the Quick Log strip (the purple eye icon).
- Choose a prodrome from the list (for example, yawning, sweet cravings, or stiff neck).
- The entry saves with the current time. You can log more than one.
If a migraine arrives later, the app will see the connection between the two.
A simple way to learn your pattern
For the next month, jot down anything that feels a little off, even if nothing comes of it. Things like:
- I yawned all afternoon.
- I really wanted chocolate, which is unusual for me.
- I felt grumpy for no clear reason.
Then, if a migraine arrives in the next day or two, look back. After three or four migraines, your personal prodrome list will start to show itself.
What prodromes are not
A prodrome is not a guarantee. Sometimes you will have one and no migraine will follow. This is normal. It does not mean you have made a mistake. It is just how the brain works.
In short
Prodromes are the brain's early warning that a migraine is coming. They can show up as cravings, yawning, mood changes, or a stiff neck. Learning yours can give you precious hours of preparation.
This is general information only.
