Introduction

Migraine attacks can make it hard to live your life normally. But there are treatments that can help.

We've brought together the best research about migraine and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk to your GP and decide which treatments are best for you.

If you have been diagnosed as having migraines, you probably already know how much they can affect your life. A migraine attack can be so severe that it stops you getting on with life. An attack can feel like more than just a headache. You may feel odd beforehand, see dots or flashing lights, get pins and needles, or feel queasy or vomit.

There's no cure that can stop you getting migraines, but they can be treated. Lots of people cope well with migraines for many years, by taking medicine that stops the symptoms of an attack.

Having migraines doesn't mean something is seriously wrong with your brain. Scientists now think that in people who get migraines, part of their brain is more excitable than normal. Because of this the brain releases high levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters. These make the blood vessels in your brain dilate (get wider) and sometimes get inflamed. This is what causes the pain of migraines.

Key points for people with migraines

• Migraine attacks are severe headaches that last from four to 72 hours.

• You may also have other symptoms, such as feeling sick or being extra-sensitive to sound or light.

• About 1 in 6 people who have migraines get what's called an aura. This can cause temporary problems with your vision or pins and needles or numbness in parts of your body.

• You may be more likely to get a migraine attack if you are tired, hungry or stressed, or eat or drink certain foods.

• Aspirin can help if your pain is not too bad. Or you can try taking a tablet that has aspirin, paracetamol, and caffeine for extra relief (two brand names for this are Anadin Extra or Alka XS Go).

• Ibuprofen also works for migraines, but you may need the higher dose, which you can only get on a doctor's prescription.

• Triptans are drugs that work quickly to make you feel better. They can help if you have bad attacks, but they do have side effects. And they don't suit everyone.

• If you get migraine attacks often, talk to your GP about medicine to prevent them. To learn more, see Treatments to prevent migraines.

Is my headache a migraine?

A group of headache specialists called the International Headache Society say that you're having a migraine if your headache lasts between four and 72 hours and you have two of the symptoms listed below:^[1]

• The pain is on one side of your head (this is called unilateral pain)

• The pain is a throbbing pain

• The pain gets worse when you move

• The pain is moderate or severe. If your pain is moderate, you may be able to keep working, but only half as well as you would normally. If your pain is severe, you usually need to go to bed.