Migraine Treatment
Migraine Treatment
If you experience migraine attacks, our pharmacist may be able to assess your symptoms and provide treatment through our NHS Pharmacy First prescribing service.
The NHS service includes treatment for low-frequency episodic migraine in adults. Our pharmacist can assess your symptoms, check that they are consistent with migraine and, where clinically appropriate, prescribe treatment without you needing to see your GP first.
What is a migraine?
Migraine is a neurological condition that causes attacks with symptoms such as a severe or throbbing headache, nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraine attacks can vary considerably between people. Some people experience occasional attacks, while others experience them much more frequently.
An attack can last from several hours to several days and can significantly affect your ability to carry out normal everyday activities.
You can find more information on the NHS migraine information page.
What are the symptoms of a migraine?
Common symptoms of a migraine attack can include:
- A throbbing or pulsating headache
- Pain that is often more noticeable on one side of the head
- Head pain that becomes worse when moving around
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Increased sensitivity to sound
- Feeling very tired
- Difficulty concentrating
Not everyone experiences migraine in exactly the same way, and symptoms can vary between individual attacks.
What is migraine with aura?
Some people experience temporary warning symptoms known as an aura before or during a migraine.
Aura symptoms can include:
- Seeing flashing lights or zigzag patterns
- Blind spots or other temporary changes to vision
- Numbness or tingling
- Feeling dizzy
- Difficulty speaking
A typical migraine aura should not last longer than one hour. New, unusual or prolonged neurological symptoms need further medical assessment because other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
NHS Pharmacy First Migraine Service
Our NHS Pharmacy First prescribing service provides eligible adults experiencing low-frequency episodic migraine with convenient access to clinical assessment and treatment.
During your consultation, our pharmacist will ask about your headaches, associated symptoms, how frequently attacks occur, how long they last, your medical history and any medicines you currently take.
We may also ask whether you experience an aura, whether your headaches have recently changed and what treatments you have previously tried.
The pharmacist will assess whether your symptoms are consistent with migraine and check for warning signs that could indicate another cause for your headache.
Where clinically appropriate, migraine treatment may be prescribed directly through the pharmacy. If your symptoms require further investigation or ongoing management, our pharmacist will explain the most appropriate next steps.
You can find out more about NHS Pharmacy First.
Get help in 4 easy steps
1. Contact our pharmacy
Book an appointment if you are an adult experiencing migraine attacks and would like professional advice and treatment.
2. Speak to our pharmacist
Our pharmacist will discuss your headaches, symptoms, how frequently they occur, your medical history and any treatments you have previously tried.
3. Clinical assessment
The pharmacist will assess whether your symptoms are consistent with low-frequency episodic migraine and check for any warning signs that require further medical assessment.
4. Advice and treatment
We will explain the most appropriate way to manage your migraine. Where clinically appropriate under the NHS prescribing pathway, treatment may be prescribed directly through the pharmacy.
How is migraine treated?
Although there is currently no cure for migraine, treatments can help manage the symptoms of an attack.
Depending on your symptoms, medical history and individual circumstances, treatment for a migraine attack can include:
- Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Migraine-specific medicines such as triptans
- Other migraine medicines where clinically appropriate
- Medicines to help with nausea or vomiting
Our pharmacist will assess which treatment is appropriate and explain how and when it should be taken.
When should I take migraine treatment?
Some migraine treatments work best when taken early during an attack. However, exactly when you should take your medicine depends on the treatment you have been given.
For example, some painkillers are usually taken as soon as migraine symptoms begin, while the instructions for migraine-specific medicines may differ.
Always follow the instructions provided by your pharmacist and the information supplied with your medicine.
What can trigger a migraine?
The exact cause of migraine is not fully understood, but some people find that particular factors trigger or contribute to their attacks.
Possible migraine triggers can include:
- Stress and anxiety
- Tiredness or changes to your usual sleeping pattern
- Skipping meals
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Too much caffeine
- Alcohol
- Hormonal changes, including periods
- Changes to your usual routine
Triggers vary between individuals and sometimes an attack may occur without an obvious trigger.
Should I keep a migraine diary?
Keeping a migraine diary can be useful, particularly if you are unsure what may be triggering your attacks.
You could record:
- When each migraine starts
- How long the attack lasts
- Your symptoms
- How severe the headache is
- Any possible triggers
- Medicines you take and whether they help
- Whether the migraine affects your usual activities
This information can also help healthcare professionals understand the pattern of your migraines and determine whether further treatment or investigation is appropriate.
What can I do during a migraine attack?
Alongside appropriate treatment, there are several things that may help you manage a migraine attack:
- Rest or sleep in a quiet, darkened room
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated
- Avoid bright lights and loud noises where possible
- Take your migraine medicine as directed
- Try to relax and rest until your symptoms improve
You can find further advice on the NHS migraine page.
How can I reduce migraine attacks?
Healthy routines and avoiding known triggers may help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
Things that may help include:
- Eating meals at regular times
- Getting regular sleep
- Staying well hydrated
- Taking regular exercise
- Managing stress where possible
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol
- Avoiding triggers you have identified
If you experience frequent migraines, you may need further assessment to discuss treatments designed to prevent attacks.
Can taking too many painkillers make headaches worse?
Yes. Regularly taking painkillers too frequently can contribute to medication-overuse headaches and make migraine more difficult to manage.
The NHS advises against taking painkillers for migraine on more than 2 days each week unless a healthcare professional has advised otherwise.
If you regularly need painkillers or other migraine medicines, speak to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
When should I see my GP?
You should arrange further medical assessment if:
- Your migraine attacks are becoming more severe
- Your migraines are becoming more frequent
- Your attacks are lasting longer than usual
- You are finding your migraines difficult to control
- You are experiencing migraines more than once a week
- Your current treatment is not working effectively
More frequent migraines may require an ongoing treatment plan or preventative treatment rather than management through the Pharmacy First low-frequency episodic migraine pathway.
When should I contact NHS 111?
Seek urgent medical advice if a migraine attack lasts longer than 72 hours, your aura symptoms last longer than 1 hour, or you have a migraine attack while pregnant or shortly after having a baby.
You can get urgent medical advice through NHS 111 online.
When should I call 999?
Some severe headaches can be a sign of a serious medical emergency rather than migraine.
Call 999 if you develop a headache and:
- It starts suddenly and is extremely painful
- You suddenly have problems speaking or remembering things
- You lose your vision or develop sudden blurred or double vision
- You become drowsy or confused
- You have a seizure
- You develop weakness or cannot move one side of your face or body
- You have a very high temperature with symptoms of meningitis
- You have recently suffered a significant head injury
These symptoms require immediate medical assessment.
Do I need to see my GP first?
No. If you are eligible and our pharmacy provides the NHS low-frequency episodic migraine prescribing service, you can contact us directly for an assessment.
Our pharmacist will assess your symptoms and determine whether treatment through the pharmacy is appropriate or whether you need further assessment from your GP or another healthcare professional.
Convenient NHS migraine care from your local pharmacy
Migraine can significantly disrupt work, family life and everyday activities. Having convenient access to professional advice can help you find an appropriate way to manage your attacks.
Our pharmacist can assess your symptoms, provide advice and, where clinically appropriate, prescribe migraine treatment through the NHS service.
Book an appointment today
If you are an adult experiencing low-frequency episodic migraines, book an appointment with our pharmacy team. Our pharmacist can assess your symptoms and advise you on the most appropriate treatment and next steps.
