Migraine treatment

Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks. Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptans, antiemetics, ergot alkaloids, and combination analgesics have evidence supporting their effectiveness in the treatment of migraine. Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are first-line treatments for mild to moderate migraines, whereas triptans are first-line treatments for moderate to severe migraines. Although triptans are effective, they may be expensive. Other medications such as dihydroergotamine and antiemetics are recommended for use as second- or third-line therapy for select patients or for those with refractory migraine. The pharmacologic properties, potential adverse effects, cost, and routes of administration vary widely, allowing therapy to be individualized based on the pattern and severity of attacks. Several treatment principles, including taking medication early in an attack and using a stratified treatment approach, can help ensure that migraine treatment is cost-effective. Clinical recommendation Evidence rating References Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a first-line treatment for mild to moderate migraine. The choice of medication should be based on availability and adverse effect profile. A – Triptans are a first-line treatment for moderate to severe migraine. Several triptans are available with different pharmacokinetics and routes of administration. A The choice of triptan should be indiv...

Migraine is a neurological condition that typically causes painful headache attacks that occur with additional symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch. More than just the cause of “really bad headaches,” migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. While intense, debilitating headaches frequently characterize it, additional symptoms may include: • nausea • vomiting • difficulty speaking • numbness or tingling • sensitivity to light and sound The condition often runs in families and can affect all ages. People assigned female at birth are more likely than people assigned male at birth to be diagnosed with migraine. The diagnosis of migraine is determined based on clinical history, reported symptoms, and by ruling out other causes. The most common categories of migraine headaches (or attacks) are episodic versus chronic, and then those without aura and those with aura. People describe migraine pain as: • pulsating • throbbing • perforating • pounding • debilitating It can also feel like a severe, dull, steady ache. The pain may start out as mild. But without treatment, it can become moderate to severe. Migraine pain most commonly affects the forehead area. It’s usually on one side of the head, but it can occur on both sides or shift. Most migraine attacks last about 4 hours. If they’re not treated or don’t respond to treatment, they can last for as long as 72 hours to a week. In migraine with aura, pain may overlap with an aur...

Caffeine, massage, ginger, and over-the-counter pain relievers are just a few of the methods used to help ease migraine pain. Identifying your triggers — and taking other medications — may even help prevent the pain altogether. A migraine is more than just a headache. It’s a complex neurological condition that can cause a variety of symptoms. If you experience migraines, you know how painful the condition can be — and how difficult it can be to make a migraine go away. Prevention and early action when a migraine strikes are key to keeping this condition under control. Here are 12 tips you can try to help treat your migraine early and keep it from getting worse. If you’ve ever put an ice pack on an injury or a heating pad on a sore back, you know the power of temperature therapy. This can also help when you have a Cold therapy has been used to treat migraine for more than 100 years, but there are few scientific studies to suggest why it can help relieve pain for some people. Some theories have suggested that cold therapy can help constrict blood vessels or slow the nerve signals involved with migraine pain. Even recent studies haven’t pinpointed exactly how You may need to experiment to decide what feels best for you. Some people find that an Sensitivity to light and sound is one of the most common migraine symptoms. Get away from these things if you can. This can help you find relief from your pain and can Lie down and pay attention to your breathing. Try taking slow, deep...

A migraine is much more than a bad headache. This neurological disease can cause debilitating throbbing pain that can leave you in bed for days! Movement, light, sound and other triggers may cause symptoms like pain, tiredness, nausea, visual disturbances, numbness and tingling, irritability, difficulty speaking, temporary loss of vision and many more. Overview What’s a migraine? What does a migraine feel like? A migraine is a common neurological disease that causes a variety of symptoms, most notably a throbbing, pulsing What are the types of headaches? What type of headache is a migraine? There are over 150 types of headaches, divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. A migraine is a primary headache, meaning that it isn’t caused by a different medical condition. Primary headache disorders are clinical diagnoses, meaning there’s no blood test or imaging study to diagnose it. A secondary headache is a symptom of another health issue. What is an aura? An aura is a group of sensory, motor and speech symptoms that usually act like warning signals that a migraine headache is about to begin. Commonly misinterpreted as a seizure or stroke, it typically happens before the headache pain, but can sometimes appear during or even after. An aura can last from 10 to 60 minutes. About 15% to 20% of people who experience migraines have auras. Aura symptoms are reversible, meaning that they can be stopped/healed. An aura produces symptoms that may include: •...

For some migraine patients, effective treatment extends beyond medication to include alternative treatments and lifestyle changes. We’re answering questions about alternative and nondrug options that may be helpful in your migraine management plan. When a migraine attack strikes, most people would do anything to get relief. Oftentimes living with migraine means adopting holistic (treating the whole person, not just the symptoms) lifestyle habits. This approach to migraine treatment can make a big difference for those living with migraine—especially given that each person with Why might someone want to consider alternative or holistic options? To start, not every patient has access to medication either due to insurance coverage, side effects or limited number of treatments each month. Others may prefer a more natural route, or haven’t responded well to certain medications, or even want to prevent Regardless of your approach, it’s important to work with your doctor to create a personal migraine management plan. What vitamins and supplements are most helpful for treating migraine? Some people with migraine may have slightly low levels of these vitamins and minerals and supplementation may be helpful. However, even in people who have normal levels of these vitamins and minerals, taking them at certain doses can reduce migraine frequency. Can exercise help you avoid a migraine? For some people, intense exercise is a migraine trigger. But research also shows that regular More sp...

Abortive medication for migraine The goal of abortive treatment is to stop a migraine once it starts. Abortive medications stop a migraine when you feel one coming or once it has begun. Abortive medications can be taken by self-injection, mouth, skin patch, or nasal spray. These forms of medication are especially useful for people who have nausea or vomiting related to their migraine, and they work quickly. Abortive treatments include the arthritis, menstruation, or other conditions. People with certain medical conditions should not take these medications. • Almotriptan ( Axert) • Eletriptan ( Relpax) • Frovatriptan ( Frova) • Naratriptan ( Amerge) • Rizatriptan ( Maxalt) • Sumatriptan ( Alsuma, Imitrex, Onzetra, Sumavel, Zembrace) • Zolmitriptan ( Zomig) The following drugs are also used for treatment: • OTC pain meds and combination pain meds including: Advil Migraine (containing ibuprofen), Excedrin Migraine (containing aspirin, acetaminophen, caffeine), isometheptene-dichloralphenazone-acetaminophen ( Midrin) , and Motrin Migraine Pain (containing ibuprofen) • Ergots including: Dihydroergotamine ( D.H.E. 45 Injection, Migranal Nasal Spray), Ergotamine tartrate ( Cafergot) • CGRP antagonists: rimegepant ( Nurtec), ubrogepant ( Ubrelvy), and zavegepant (Zavzpret) The following drugs are sometimes used for nausea related to migraine headaches, in addition to migraine treatment: • Chlorpromazine ( Thorazine) • Droperidol • Metoclopramide ( Reglan) • Prochlorperazine ( Comp...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. So, what can you do if you get a migraine? First and foremost, making lifestyle or behavioral changes can help with migraines. That means exercising more, reducing your screen time and getting proper amounts of sleep. Reducing your stress can also help — or doing things like dimming the lights or using a cold washcloth on your forehead if the pain is too great. But what works for one person might not work for you, so it’s best to look at your individual lifestyle and migraine frequency and adjust accordingly. Headache specialist Best remedies for migraines Whether it’s home remedies for migraines or working with your doctor to find the right medication, Dr. Estemalik and Dr. Young recommend the following: Eat frequently If you’re searching for natural remedies for migraines, it makes sense to start with how you eat. Eating small, frequent meals keeps your blood sugar stable and helps control migraines. Try following a mainly Watch for dietary triggers What you put in your body can have an effect on your migraine headaches. Some common foods to avoid include: • Monosodium glutamate (MSG), commonly found in “Chinese food.” • Nitrates, found in deli meats, pepperoni and hot dogs. • Sulfites, in salad bars, red wine and dried fruit. • Artificial sweeteners. • Processed foods. • Greasy, fried food. • Aged chees...

Hi, I'm Dr. Amaal Starling, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic specializing in headache disorders. In this video, we will cover the basics of migraine. What is it? Who gets it, the symptoms, the diagnosis, and most importantly, the treatment. Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we are here to give you the best information available. There is a lot of stigma around migraine. That it's just a headache and that it's no big deal. But migraine is a genetic neurologic disease. It affects each person differently with a wide range of disease severity. Some have infrequent attacks, but others may have frequent disabling attacks. Expecting someone to push through or just take your mind off of it is never good advice. Who gets it? Migraine is very common, affecting one in five women, one in 16 men, and even one in 11 children. Migraine attacks are three times more prevalent in women, likely as a result of hormonal differences. Certainly genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of migraine disease. And since it is genetic, it is hereditary. Meaning if a parent has migraine, there's about a 50 percent chance that a child may develop migraine as well. If you have migraine, certain factors can trigger an attack. However, this does not mean that if you get a migraine attack, that it's their fault, that you should feel any guilt or shame for your symptoms. Hormonal changes, specifically fluctuations and estrogen that can occur during menst...