What are common causes of headaches that occur at night and how can they be treated?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Nighttime headaches are often caused by specific conditions such as cluster headaches or hypnic headaches, both of which can disrupt sleep and impact daily life. Cluster headaches typically cause intense pain around one eye, while hypnic headaches — sometimes called "alarm clock headaches" — wake people at consistent times during the night. Effective treatments are available, ranging from lifestyle adjustments (like improving sleep hygiene or avoiding triggers) to targeted medications. However, the right treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause.

Because nighttime headaches can stem from very different conditions, identifying the likely cause is the critical first step toward relief. Rather than guessing, take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be driving your symptoms and get clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover what causes night headaches Learn if nighttime headaches need care See if your headache is serious Find OTC relief for headache pain Find a doctor for headache care Understand home remedies for headaches Discover likely causes of nighttime headaches

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Explanation

Headaches that happen at night can be due to various reasons, including a condition known as a cluster headache or another condition known as a hypnic headache.

Usually, people with cluster headaches start to experience these headaches between 20 to 40 years of age, but children and older adults have also been known to develop cluster headaches. Cluster headache symptoms can start all of a sudden, usually on one side of the head, and can last for hours. Alcohol and smoking tobacco can trigger cluster headaches, so avoiding these triggers can help prevent these symptoms.

Hypnic headaches typically occur in adults ages 50 years and older. Hypnic headaches are characterized by dull or throbbing pain that usually lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. Treatment options for hypnic headaches include indomethacin or caffeine.

If you experience frequent headaches, you can use Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify potential causes, and it's important to talk to a healthcare provider to find the right treatment for you.

(References)

Singh NN, & Sahota P. (2013). Sleep-related headache and its management. Current treatment options in neurology, 24132786.
De Simone R, Marano E, Ranieri A, & Bonavita V. (2006). Hypnic headache: an update. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 16688619.
Manni R, & Ghiotto N. (2010). Hypnic headache. Handbook of clinical neurology, 20816447.

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