Treatment
There's currently no cure for migraines, although a number of treatments are available to help ease the symptoms.
It may take time to work out the best treatment for you. You may need to try different types or combinations of medicines before you find the most effective ones.
If you find you cannot manage your migraines using over-the-counter medicines, your GP may prescribe something stronger.
During an attack
Most people find that sleeping or lying in a darkened room is the best thing to do when having a migraine attack.
Others find that eating something helps, or they start to feel better once they have been sick.
Painkillers
Many people who have migraines find that over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen, can help to reduce their symptoms.
They tend to be most effective if taken at the first signs of a migraine attack, as this gives them time to absorb into your bloodstream and ease your symptoms.
It's not advisable to wait until the headache worsens before taking painkillers, as it's often too late for the medicine to work.
Tablets you dissolve in a glass of water (soluble painkillers) are a good alternative because they're absorbed quickly by your body.
If you cannot swallow painkillers because of nausea or vomiting, suppositories may be a better option. These are capsules that are inserted into the bottom.
Cautions
When taking over-the-counter painkillers, always make sure you read the instructions on the packaging and follow the dosage recommendations.
Children under 16 should not take aspirin unless it's under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Aspirin and ibuprofen are also not recommended for adults who have a history of stomach problems, such as stomach ulcers, liver problems or kidney problems.
Taking any form of painkiller frequently can make migraines worse. This is sometimes called a medication overuse headache or painkiller headache.
Speak to a GP if you find yourself needing to use painkillers repeatedly or over-the-counter painkillers are not effective.
They may prescribe stronger painkillers or recommend using painkillers along with triptans.
If they suspect the frequent use of painkillers may be contributing your headaches, they may recommended that you stop using them.
Triptans
If ordinary painkillers are not helping to relieve your migraine symptoms, you should make an appointment to see a GP.
They may recommend taking painkillers in addition to a type of medicine called a triptan, and possibly anti-sickness medicine.
Triptan medicines are a specific painkiller for migraine headaches. They're thought to work by reversing the changes in the brain that may cause migraine headaches.
They cause the blood vessels around the brain to narrow (contract). This reverses the widening of blood vessels that's believed to be part of the migraine process.
Triptans are available as tablets, injections and nasal sprays.
Common side effects of triptans include:
- warm sensations
- tightness
- tingling
- flushing
- feelings of heaviness in the face, limbs or chest
Some people also experience feeling sick, a dry mouth and drowsiness.
These side effects are usually mild and improve on their own.
As with other painkillers, taking too many triptans can lead to a medication overuse headache.
Your GP will usually recommend having a follow-up appointment once you have finished your first course of treatment with triptans.
This is so you can discuss their effectiveness and whether you had any side effects.
If the medicine was helpful, treatment will usually be continued.
If they were not effective or caused unpleasant side effects, your GP may try prescribing a different type of triptan as how people respond to this medicine can be highly variable.
Anti-sickness medicines
Anti-sickness medicines, known as anti-emetics, can successfully treat migraine in some people even if you do not experience feeling or being sick.
These are prescribed by a GP, and can be taken alongside painkillers and triptans.
As with painkillers, anti-sickness medicines work better if taken as soon as your migraine symptoms begin.
They usually come in the form of a tablet, but are also available as a suppository.
Side effects of anti-emetics include drowsiness and diarrhoea.
Combination medicines
You can buy a number of combination medicines for migraine without a prescription at your local pharmacy.
These medicines contain both painkillers and anti-sickness medicines.
If you're not sure which one is best for you, ask your pharmacist.
It can also be very effective to combine a triptan with another painkiller, such as ibuprofen.
Many people find combination medicines convenient.
But the dose of painkillers or anti-sickness medicine may not be high enough to relieve your symptoms.
If this is the case, it may be better to take painkillers and anti-sickness medicines separately. This allows you to easily control the doses of each.
Acupuncture
If medicines are unsuitable or do not help to prevent migraines, you can try acupuncture.
Some GP surgeries offer acupuncture, but most do not, so you may have to pay for it privately.
Evidence suggests a course of up to 10 sessions over a 5- to 8-week period may be beneficial.
Find out more about acupuncture
Seeing a specialist
If the treatments above are not effectively controlling your migraines, your GP may refer you to a specialist migraine clinic for further investigation and treatment.
In addition to the medicines mentioned above, a specialist may recommend other treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
In January 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the use of a treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the treatment and prevention of migraines.
TMS involves holding a small electrical device to your head that delivers magnetic pulses through your skin.
It's not clear exactly how TMS works in treating migraines, but studies have shown that using it at the start of a migraine can reduce its severity.
It can also be used in combination with the medicines mentioned above without interfering with them.
But TMS is not a cure for migraines and does not work for everyone.
The evidence for its effectiveness is not strong and is limited to people who have migraine with aura.
There's also little evidence about the potential long-term effects of the treatment, although studies into the treatment have so far only reported minor and temporary side effects.
These include:
- slight dizziness
- drowsiness and tiredness
- a muscle tremor that can make it difficult to stand
- irritability
NICE recommends that TMS should only be provided by headache specialists in specialist centres because of the uncertainty about the potential long-term side effects.
The specialist will keep a record of your experiences using the treatment.
Treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women
In general, migraine treatment with medicines should be limited as much as possible when you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Instead, trying to identify and avoid potential migraine triggers is often recommended.
If medicine is essential, your GP may prescribe you a low-dose painkiller, such as paracetamol.
In some cases, anti-inflammatory medicine or triptans may be prescribed.
Speak to a GP or your midwife before taking medicine when you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Page last reviewed: Tue May 2022 Next review due: Wed Feb 2020
