Can Migraine Get Worse Over Time? 

By Lorene Alba | August 17, 2026

“People who have migraine treatments that don’t really work are likely to get worse - it’s that simple!” A sobering quote from certified headache specialist Dr. Christopher Gottschalk(opens in new tab), and one that leaves more questions than answers in its wake. Does migraine disease change over time(opens in new tab)? If so, why does it get worse or better? And, is there anything that we can do about it? 

We asked our migraine community to share how their migraine has changed over the years. Out of 580 respondents, many told us how their migraine attacks(opens in new tab) have increased over time, including symptoms that last longer, more frequent attacks, and treatment resistance. When migraine gets worse over time, it means the disease has progressed (chronified). 

Yes, Migraine Can Get Worse

A high percentage of survey respondents shared that their migraine has progressed(opens in new tab):

  • 46% said their migraine days increased in frequency.
  • 37% said their attacks got more severe.
  • 38% said their preventive medicine stopped working as well.

A Gap Between Patients and Doctors

Most people who completed the survey (66%) already knew migraine could get worse over time. But here's the surprising part: only about 1 in 3 learned this from a doctor. Most people found out on their own or through a patient advocacy group like Migraine Meanderings(opens in new tab).

This gap matters. If doctors are not alerting people with migraine that the disease can worsen we need to explore the reasons for this communication gap, such as competing priorities and overall low migraine awareness levels in the healthcare system. This is a critical unmet need that need to be addressed, especially since many patients are currently relying on other sources of information, like the internet, for migraine treatment advice - and those sources may not be current and evidence-based.

“[Some] doctors' lack of knowledge or willingness to address migraine disease quickly often leads to chronic migraine, and patients are often oblivious to this risk. I wish I had understood this from the beginning, and I would have advocated for myself better.” - Survey Respondent

What People Believe Makes Migraine Worse

In the patient survey we asked what people think causes migraine to progress. The top answers were:

Here's the hard part: even though most people believe pushing through migraine attacks makes things worse, it looks like it's also the change they're least willing to make. Our busy lives make stopping to rest seem impossible. That's understandable. Life doesn't pause for migraine. But resting when you can may protect you in the long run. 

One person wrote:  "If I had known about migraine progression, I would have sought out preventive meds years ago and would have treated myself a lot differently." - Survey Respondent

In addition to behavioral changes, there are other key factors that may be involved in resistance to lifestyle change. Factors such as the inability to financially stop working, the ability to take care of their children, and a lack of understanding of how debilitating migraine can become and the potential impact on life in the future. There also is the issue of medication rationing, because frequently patients do not receive enough medications to effectively manage their attacks. This leads to choosing when to treat, and initiating treatment late in attacks, with the resultant need to “push through(opens in new tab)” at all other times. 

The Toll Goes Beyond Attack Symptoms

Migraine touches more than the days you spend in pain. Survey respondents said it affects:

  • Social relationships (85%)
  • Mental health, like anxiety or depression (82%)
  • Full-time work (66%)
  • Money (51%)

Nearly 1 in 4 people who completed the survey are on permanent disability(opens in new tab) because of migraine. In addition, loved ones, friends, and coworkers also feel the impact of migraine disease as it impacts relationships from the home to the workplace and beyond. Stark reminders that this is a real illness with real costs, and potentially serious consequences if disease management is not optimal. 

"After my third child was born, my migraine attacks became uncontrollable, and the impact on my marriage and family life was nothing short of devastating.” - Survey Respondent

What You Can Do

The good news: 77% of people who completed the survey said they were willing to talk to their doctor about starting a new preventive treatment. Most people with frequent migraine attacks are willing to try lifestyle changes, new medications, migraine devices(opens in new tab), and anything else they can find as they desperately look for ways to feel better.

If your migraine has changed, here are some steps that may help you regain control:

  1. Track your symptoms: Write down how often attacks happen, the symptoms, how severe they are, and if anything helped to stop them.
  2. Talk to your doctor about progression: Let your doctor know if your migraine treatment plan no longer works for you, and work with them to develop a personalized Migraine Action Plan(opens in new tab) that can be changed as needed (free downloadable template on our website HERE).
  3. Treat attacks early: Waiting can make symptoms harder to control or even result in the attacks becoming more treatment-resistant. Learn to recognize the earliest symptoms of your migraine attacks, and aim to treat them before the pain and other symptoms escalate.
  4. Rest when you need to: It's not giving up or being lazy; rest should be part of your migraine treatment plan and self-care.

“I know my migraine has progressed throughout my life, and I am watching my 13-year-old son going through that progression himself... almost exactly like it did for me.” - Survey Respondent 

Migraine can change over time. But you have more power than you may think to respond to those changes — starting with an honest conversation with your headache management team.

Join the Conversation

Your voice matters! If this blog spoke to you, we'd love to hear from you:

Together, we can help more people understand how to best manage their migraine attacks and get the care they deserve. 

LET US KNOW! 

Were you aware that migraine could progress, and if so, where did you learn this? Have your attacks become more severe, frequent, or challenging to treat? And if so, are you actively taking steps to stop or reverse progression? 

The above information is educational only and should not be considered medical advice; please consult with your healthcare professional before making any changes to your migraine treatment plan.

This article was written by Lorene Alba and organized with the help of Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, which was used to analyze the survey data. All findings & content were reviewed by our team before publication.

Posted in Default, Empowering Patient Voices, Life with Migraine and tagged , , , , ,