Printable migraine diary
A monthly calendar and an attack log on two pages, to print and fill in day by day. Free, no sign-up.
PDF, 2 pages.
Why keep a migraine diary?
It is often the first thing a neurologist asks for. Logging your attacks helps you spot your triggers, see whether a treatment works and check whether your attacks follow your cycle.
It also counts your medication days. Beyond 10 days a month, the risk of medication overuse rises: the painkillers themselves can then keep the headaches going.
How to fill it in
- 1On each attack day, write the intensity from 1 to 10 at the bottom of that day's box.
- 2Tick “Med” if you took an acute medication that day. You can also jot down a word in the box: period day, bad night, stress.
- 3For each attack, fill in one row of the log: start and end times, symptoms, possible triggers, medication taken and drug-free relief, ticking for each whether it helped.
- 4At the end of the month, count your migraine days and medication days, then bring the diary to your next appointment.
What your doctor will look at
- Migraine days per month, to decide whether a preventive treatment makes sense.
- How long and how strong attacks are, to choose the right acute treatment.
- Days with medication, to spot medication overuse.
- Recurring triggers, and any link with your period.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I keep a migraine diary?
At least one to three months. That is how long it takes for a pattern to show, for example around your period, and for your doctor to assess a preventive treatment.
Should I log days without an attack?
Just leave that day's box empty. Attack-free days matter as much as the others: they give your real frequency and show the calm periods.
Does the diary replace a medical appointment?
No. It is a tool to prepare your appointment and talk it through with your doctor, not to make a diagnosis.
