Living with Basilar migraine
A type of migraine with warning symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo, and pain at the back of the head.
Understanding Basilar migraine
An aura is a group of symptoms that often warns that a bad headache is coming. In this type, an aura may include dizziness, vertigo, slurred speech, trouble with coordination (ataxia), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), vision changes, or loss of balance.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD describes these as possible aura symptoms:
- Pain at the back of the head on both sides
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Slurred speech
- Trouble with coordination (ataxia)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Vision changes or loss of balance
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
American Migraine Foundation and National Headache Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Expert lists: American Migraine Foundation, National Headache Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with American Migraine Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The exact cause is poorly understood. Migraines are likely influenced by many genes together with lifestyle and environment. In rare cases, a change in the ATP1A2 or CACNA1A gene may raise the chance of this type.
Also known as: basilar artery migraine; basilar artery migraine with aura; basilar-type migraine; bickerstaff migraine; bickerstaff's migraine; migraine with brainstem aura
Patient organizations
- American Migraine FoundationBasilar migraine · United States
- National Headache FoundationBasilar migraine · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Basilar migraine.
Explore research for Basilar migraine
Explore actively recruiting Basilar migraine studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Basilar migraine with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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