Nausea can be accompanied by vomiting and may be controlled safety with the use of compazine or thorazine. Acute attacks generally have a rapid onset of hours to days, but characterization of a typical episode is impossible. An attack may last several days to several weeks. Please note that no two people will react in the same way to an acute attack, and the same patient will find that no two attacks will have the same reactions. An acute attack is often precipitated by some event or drug exposure.
Known pharmaceuticals associated with attacks include ethanol, barbiturates, and anticonvulsants.
An attack may be precipitated by dietary restriction.such as experienced in crash diets, or the avoidance of carbohydrates. In women many attacks are influenced by hormonal status, with the disease typically becoming manifest after puberty. Acute attacks which are more common in women, may occur in association with menses usually a week prior to the oinset. In some women the acute attacks may cease with menopause. Some women have clinically been charted with more aggressive attacks.