Treatments for migraine
Everyone’s different, right? And so are the treatments for migraine, which include medical devices, self-care and medication.
To assist your healthcare professional in helping you decide what treatment is right for you it is often helpful to keep a diary of your headaches.
The following is an overview of some of the available treatments. You should seek specialist help from a healthcare professional if you are experiencing problems with your mental health or have questions regarding your current treatment.
Your migraine diagnosis will be based on your individual history of your headaches (including how often they occur and if the pain is moderate to severe, ‘pulsating’, and on just one side of the head), whether you have noticed any triggers, and if you have experienced other physical symptoms during your headache.1  Remember, sharing as much detail with your healthcare professional will help them in finding the right treatment for you.
Medications
Migraine is complex and there are different treatments available depending on the type of migraine, the symptoms and the frequency and severity of migraine attacks you are experiencing.2 Medications can be used during an attack to reduce its severity (acute treatment), and preventive medicines can be taken to prevent attacks.3 Below, you’ll find more information about types of medicines.
Acute medicines4
Acute medicines are taken to stop or shorten the symptoms of a migraine attack and should only be taken once an attack starts. There are a variety of acute medicines which vary in their strength, which you can discuss with your healthcare professional to determine which one might be right for you.
Preventative medicines5
Preventative medicines, which you will also hear referred to as prophylactics, are taken to every day to help prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. If you are experiencing at least four migraine attacks per month, you may want to discuss the option of preventative migraine medicines with your healthcare professional.
Medical devices6
If, like many people, you would like to use a non-drug approach to manage your migraine symptoms there are a number of medical device options which your healthcare professional can discuss with you which can be used to prevent and/or treat your migraine.
Alternative therapies
Making general lifestyle improvements may help people to cope with migraine attacks so regular exercise and eating a well-balanced diet should be an aim.7 Along with these positive lifestyle choices there are a number of alternative therapies for migraine that you may want to explore. One example is supplements. These can include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids as well as substances such as enzymes and are often taken to help manage migraine symptoms.8 If you’re thinking of taking any supplements, be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is safe to do so, as some may interact with other types of medication.8
Acupuncture, delivered by a trained practitioner, may be helpful in preventing migraine. It is a technique where a very thin needle is inserted through your skin at strategic points on your body. This is a key component of Chinese medicine, however, is becoming widely used in Western medicine as well.9,10
References
- Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1–211.
- What is migraine? The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/what-is-migraine/#page-section-1 [Last accessed July 2024]
- Migraine. Brain Research UK. Available at https://www.brainresearchuk.org.uk/neurological-conditions/migraine [Last accessed July 2024]
- Acute medicines. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/acute-medicines/ [Last accessed July 2024]
- Preventative medicines. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/preventive-medicines [Last accessed July 2024]
- Medical devices. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/medical-devices/ [Last accessed July 2024]
- Migraine Attack Triggers. The Migraine Trust. Acute medicines. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/self-management/common-triggers/ [Last accessed July 2024]
- Supplements. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/supplements/ [Last accessed July 2024]
- Acupuncture. The Migraine Trust. Available at https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/acupuncture/ [Last accessed July 2024]
- Acupuncture. Mayo Clinic. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763 [Last accessed July 2024]
