The Migraine Hangover Nobody Talks About

The migraine pain is gone… so why do you still feel exhausted, emotional, foggy, or completely drained afterward?

In this episode of The Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the often-overlooked “migraine hangover” phase — also known as the postdrome stage. Blending neuroscience with holistic healing insights, this episode explains why your brain and nervous system may still be recovering long after the pain disappears.

You’ll discover:

💡 Why migraines can leave you feeling emotionally fragile, foggy, shaky, or deeply fatigued even after the headache ends

💡 What your nervous system may actually be recovering from during the post-migraine phase — and why pushing through can prolong the cycle

💡 Simple ways to support your brain and help your body recover more gently after a migraine attack

If you’ve ever wondered why you still don’t feel “normal” after the migraine is over, this episode will help you understand what your brain may still be processing beneath the surface.

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References:

• Migraine—Current Understanding and Treatment (Goadsby, Lipton, & Ferrari, 2002): This landmark review provides an overview of migraine mechanisms, highlighting the role of the trigeminovascular system, neurovascular interactions, and emerging treatment approaches. It helped shift the understanding of migraine from a purely vascular disorder to a complex neurological disease. Read more here.
• The Migraine Postdrome (Giffin et al., 2016): This study examined the postdrome phase of migraine, often called the “migraine hangover,” and found that many patients experience symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and mood changes after headache pain has resolved. Read more here.
• Migraine: Disease Characterisation, Biomarkers, and Precision Medicine (Ashina et al., 2021): This comprehensive review explores migraine as a complex brain disorder, discussing advances in neuroimaging, biomarkers, genetics, and precision medicine approaches that may improve diagnosis and treatment. Read more here.
• The Pathophysiology of Migraine: Implications for Clinical Management (Charles, 2018): This review explains migraine as a disorder involving altered brain excitability, cortical spreading depolarization, activation of trigeminal pain pathways, and neuropeptide release. It also discusses how these mechanisms inform modern migraine therapies. Read more here.
• Migraine (Dodick, 2018): This comprehensive review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of migraine, emphasizing its substantial global burden and the emergence of targeted therapies such as CGRP-based treatments. Read more here.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.

For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks.

We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.