Headache diary: a simple migraine diary in 4 steps

A headache diary is a simple daily record of your headaches, your migraine symptoms and the medicines you take. Kept for at least three months, it shows how often you really have migraine, whether it is chronic, and whether painkillers or triptans have become part of the problem. It is the most useful thing you can bring to a consultation.

What is a headache diary?

A headache diary, or migraine diary, works as your personal migraine tracker: a place where you note a few relevant things every day. Some diaries are very detailed, but you do not need large spreadsheets or analyses. Short and consistent works better than long and patchy.

How do you keep a headache diary?

These four simple steps are enough for a diary that works:

1. Headache days: note every day whether you had a headache. A mild headache counts too.
2. Migraine days: mark the days on which you had migraine symptoms.
3. Other symptoms: note symptoms other than headache, such as nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, and whether you had your period.
4. Medicines: write down which medicines you took that day to treat a headache or migraine attack.

Fill it in at the same moment every day, for example before bed. Days without a headache matter just as much, so write those down as well.

How long should you keep a headache diary?

Aim for at least three months. Migraine varies from one month to the next, and a shorter period can give a misleading picture. Three months is also the period used in the official criteria for chronic migraine and for medication overuse headache.

How does a migraine diary help?

Keeping a migraine diary helps you and your migraine specialist to:

• work out your average number of migraine days every 4 weeks;
• see whether you have chronic migraine, based on your total number of headache days and how many of those are migraine days;
• check for medication overuse headache, which can develop when painkillers or triptans are taken on too many days.

A diary also shows whether a treatment is working. Comparing the months before and after you start a new medicine is far more reliable than memory.

What does a diary entry look like?

An entry can be a single line, for example: Tuesday: headache, migraine, nausea and sensitivity to light, first day of period, sumatriptan at 7am. A good day is even shorter: Wednesday: no headache.

Which medicines have you tried before?

Before your consultation, make a list of every medicine you have tried for migraine: its name, the dose if you know it, how long you took it and why you stopped. If you cannot remember, your GP practice or pharmacy can give you an overview of your prescription record. Sharing this list in the App helps your migraine specialist avoid trying medicines again that did not work for you.

Where can you keep your diary?

A notebook or a note on your phone is enough. Bring it to your consultation, so your migraine specialist sees the same picture you do.

Ready to talk to a migraine specialist?

Preparing for a consultation about your migraine can feel daunting. A diary makes it easier, because it turns months of experience into one clear picture. At The Migraine Clinic you see a migraine specialist by video, and you do not need a referral from your GP. Find out how to start, or take the migraine test first.