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Roller Coaster Migraine: An Underreported
Injury?
Juanita G. McBeath, MD; Anil Nanda, MD
Posted August 2003
Headache 2003;40:745-747

A 28-year old woman presented with severe headache, sleep problems, memory problems and irritability 2 months after a violent roller coaster ride. She was diagnosed with posttraumatic migraine, and intravenous dihydroergotamine resolved her symptoms. Imaging studies, electroencephalogram, and visual and auditory evoked responses were normal. Imipramine, divalproex sodium, and propranolol were prescribed to prevent the headaches from recurring and dihydroergotamine nasal spray was prescribed for breakthrough headaches. We consider the many short but significant brain insults delivered during the roller coaster ride a critical factor in triggering this instance of posttraumatic migraine, which while unmanaged was a source of significant disability for the patient.