Silent migraine is a type of migraine which is not accompanied by headache and is not a very uncommon occurrence. This neurological disorder has existed since years and is known by various names including acephalgic migraine, ocular migraine, painless migraine, sans migraine and eye migraine. Nowadays, this type of migraine is commonly known as migraine aura without a headache.

Symptoms:

Here, it is important to understand that headache is merely a symptom of migraine and may or may not be present during a full blast migraine attack. Silent migraine is more common in men than in women and is often experienced in the later stages of life. The symptoms of this like any other aura migraine are mostly visual distortions like seeing zigzag lines, sudden flashes of light and vertigo. Other symptoms include slurred speech, fatigue, numbness on one side of the body, muscle weakness, double vision and blind spots known as scotoma.

The absence of the symptom of headache makes this disorder prone to misdiagnosis. The symptoms of silent migraine are numerous and can be mistaken for those of any other disease, particularly a minor stroke. It is important to have a record of the patient’s medical history and also that of his/her family because migraine can be hereditary in character and is known to run in families.

Treatment:

If the cases of silent migraine attacks are few and rare, then there is no need for any treatment. But there are some cases wherein the patient experiences severe and reoccurring attacks that require treatment.

There are a number of abortive drugs that are recommended for instant relief from silent migraine. The most common and simplest form of such abortive medicines is aspirin. Other drugs also include beta –agonist inhalants like isoproterenol which is very fast effecting. Drugs like nitroglycerin, naproxen sodium and meclofenamate are also helpful in treating this condition. Calcium channel blockers and topiramate also help in preventing a silent migraine attack.

In case an attack occurs, you must discontinue doing whatever task is at hand and try to stay calm and relaxed.