Living with Migraine in My 60s and Beyond

Episodic migraines during the first 5 decades of my life aren’t a mystery. I can tell you about those experiences because I lived them. Speculating about migraines during the second half of my life is a little more difficult. I decided I needed to have a conversation with my doctor to get answers for a few of my migraine-related senior concerns.

1. How does migraine typically evolve in older adults?

A lot of migraine warriors experience hormonal-related migraines, which can be a problem beginning in the 50s. If hormone therapy or other medications to treat symptoms of hormonal changes, such as menopause, have also helped in decreasing migraine episodes for you, then your doctor may suggest continuing that treatment plan into your 60s. 

Migraine symptoms can change in older adults. Sensitivity to light and sound might lessen or the headache pain might present itself differently. At the same time, the functionality of other aspects of the body can also change and cause symptoms like those of migraine. It becomes more important to have regular discussions with your doctor to rule out other possible illnesses.

If your migraine episodes include visual anomalies, you may not want to assume the problem is a migraine as usual. This symptom can present like the onset of a stroke. Migraine visual anomalies usually last 30 to 90 minutes. For a stroke, it can keep going for several hours. It’s best not to wait 90 minutes to determine which it is. A stroke can result in more damage if not treated quickly. 

2. How do medications common to the elderly interact with migraine medicines?

Abortive migraine medicines typically play nice together with medications for the treatment of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Beta-blockers, used to treat a wide range of heart and circulatory problems, can also be prescribed as a migraine preventative since migraines have a vascular component.

In addition to heart disease, aging can come with other medical issues like kidney disease, more aches and pains, and the possibility of more surgical procedures. Some migraine abortive medications can affect kidneys as age and hereditary factors lessen kidney function. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and perform regular testing to monitor your health as you get older.

When it comes to pesky back and joint pain as well as an increase in surgical procedures, pain medication becomes an issue. Opioids can cause rebound migraines and should be avoided whenever possible for migraine warriors. Ask your doctor about non-opioid treatment options in these circumstances. 

3. What other impactful considerations should I be aware of as I move into my 60s?

Retirement can have a significant impact on migraines, particularly if work-related stress is one of your triggers. Saying goodbye to work and focusing on more relaxing and enjoyable activities might help decrease episode frequency.

Something to watch out for would be changes in your sleeping pattern, a common migraine trigger for many people. Your sleep schedule can become more erratic when you have a less demanding daily routine. Staying up late or sleeping in can trigger a migraine. Napping during the day may seem awesome, but it can throw off your sleeping patterns.

Migraine management is going to look a little different for me in my 60s and beyond. I’m already proactive about trigger avoidance and taking abortive medicine as soon as possible. Now, I’m going to have to be more watchful of the cause of my symptoms and keep the lines of communication open between me and my doctor.

Originally published at WebMD.com on 7-8-24.