Keep a Migraine Diary

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A headache diary can be valuable in helping you and your doctor diagnose and treat your headaches. You can use it to map out the characteristics of your headaches, including their frequency, duration, and intensity. It can help in identifying possible triggers and related symptoms, as well as tracking the dosage and effectiveness of any medications you're taking.

You can use a preprinted form, like the one below, or a regular calendar or notebook to record this information. Your doctor may recommend keeping such a diary every day for a week, a month, or the duration of your treatment. He or she may review the diary with you to assess your progress, weigh the effectiveness of medications, or make adjustments in your treatment plan.

	First episode	Second episode	Third episode
Date/day of the week of headache
Time of onset
Time of resolution
Warning signs
Location(s) of the pain
Type of pain
Intensity of the pain*
Additional symptoms
Activities/circumstances at time of onset
Time of most recent meal prior to onset
Food/drink most recently consumed prior to onset
Medication(s) taken for headache
Response to medication(s)
Other action(s) taken for relief
Response to action(s)
Last menstrual period**
Medication(s) currently taken for other condition(s)
on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain possible *beginning date and ending date
Note: Permission is granted to reproduce this page of the report for individual use.

Last Annual Review Date: Jan 1, 2011 Copyright: Copyright Harvard Health Publications

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Keep a Migraine Diary

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