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Around 10 million people in the UK suffer from migraines. Migraines have a high human cost and can often be debilitating. There is also economic cost, with migraines costing the UK around 3 million workdays per year.
Whilst Migraines aren’t curable, they are treatable. We’ve explored treatment and medication for chronic migraines, tips for migraine prevention, information on headache diaries and other useful information in our article below.
A Migraine is a moderate-to-severe headache usually one one-side of the head. Migraines are a common health problem which effect women more often than men (but they can affect men too.)
Migraines may or may not come with ‘Auras.’ Migraine auras are symptoms which show a few minutes before a migraine attack. Symptoms of a migraine aura include changes in visuals such as seeing lights or zigzag lines, numbness or tingling or feeling lightheaded or feint.
Whilst Migraines aren’t curable, they are treatable. There are a range of over-the-counter medications, and medication prescribed for migraines, which can improve quality of life for migraine sufferers.
Migraine attacks often follow a pattern with certain symptoms preceding a migraine attack.
We’ve explored some of the phases of a migraine attack below:
Premonitory Stage: During the premonitory stage people may feel tiredness, mood changes, irritability, stiffness and other symptoms. The premonitory stage usually lasts between 1-24 hours.
Aura Stage: Approximately 1/3 people who experience migraines, will experience an aura. A migraine aura includes symptoms such as seeing lights, feeling numbness or tingling or feeling feint or dizzy. Migraine auras tend to come a few minutes for a migraine attack.
Migraine Attack Stage: Migraine onset – symptoms may be moderate-to-severe, and pain may be characterised by a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Sickness and vomiting may also happen at this stage. Migraine attacks can last from 3-72 hours.
Resolution: During the resolution phase symptoms seem to fade away, for some people sleeping seems to help an attack resolve.
Recovery: The final stage of an attack can be described as a ‘hangover’ feeling. Symptoms can mirror the symptoms seen during the premonitory stage.
Not every person will experience every phase with every migraine attack. Migraine attacks can show in different ways.
Preventative migraine medications (or migraine prophylaxis) are medications which are taken daily to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. There are several types of preventive migraine medications:
Angiotensin II Blockers such as Candesartan can be used as preventative migraine medications.
Anti-convulsant such as topiramate and sodium valproate are typically used to treat epilepsy but may be prescribed as a preventative migraine medication.
Anti-Serotonergic Drugs such as Risperdone or Olanzapine or Tricyclic anti-depressants such as Amitriptyline can be used to treat migraines (although they’re more common used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression respectively.)
Beta-blockers such as Atenolol or Bisoprolol are usually used to treat high blood pressure but have shown efficacy as preventative migraine treatments.
CRGP monoclonal antibodies such as Erenumab (Aimovig) are a new type of medicines developed specifically for the treatment of migraine. Medications of this type are typically administered as a once monthly injection.
There are several symptomatic migraine treatments. Symptomatic treatments are types of medication to stop migraines.
These include over-the-counter options such as paracetamol or co-codamol, and prescription items such as Sumatriptan, Rizatriptan or Almotriptan.
Migraine triggers vary person to person; however, some common migraine triggers include:
Given the variety of triggers, it’s recommended migraine suffers keep a headache diary so they can better understand triggers and manage migraines.
In your headache diary you could include your sleep routine, exercise routine, the weather along with the severity and times migraines occur.
Despite effecting millions of people worldwide the root cause of migraines is still largely a medical mystery, although environmental factors and genetics seem to play a role.
Chemical imbalances, such as imbalances in Serotonin levels, also seem to play a factor.
Fortunately, there are lots of over the counter items and prescription medications to treat migraines.
Over the counter options include paracetamol, aspirin and low dose codeine pain killers such as Co Codamol or Solpadeine.
Or prescription options such as Almotriptan (Almogran), Rizatriptan (Maxalt), Sumatriptan (Imigran). Some lower dose or lower pack sizes of these medications.
The most prominent symptom of migraines is an intense headache, usually on one-side of the head however it may affect both sides or even your face and neck.
Other symptoms of migraines can include:
Symptoms of migraines usually last between 3 and 72 hours.
Around 1 in 3 migraine suffers will also experience a ‘migraine aura.’ An aura is visual changes such as seeing flashing lights, feelings of dizziness and numbness across the body.
An aura serves as a pre-warning for migraines, usually arriving a few minutes before a migraine attack.
Lots of Migraine medications are available on the NHS however nowadays you can also order medications safely online a Meds for Less.
At Meds for Less we have a range of over-the-counter treatments including paracetamol, Aspirin and NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen. You can browse our range of treatments in our coughs, colds and flus category.
We also stock a range prescription migraine medications known as ‘triptans’ which are often prescribed to treat migraines. Triptan medications include Sumatriptan (Imigran), Almotriptan (Almogran) and Rizatriptan (often sold under the brand Maxalt.)
There are two types of migraine medications. Symptomatic treatments such as Triptan medications, and preventative medications such as beta blockers.
Symptomatic treatments are used to alleviate pain after onset of a migraine, preventative treatments are used to prevent the onset of migraines.
Triptan medications are generally the most effective symptomatic migraine treatment. You should try several different medication for migraines UK and decide which one works best for you as some triptan medications will work better than others for certain individuals.
CGRP monoclonal antibodies (CGRP) are a new type of preventive medication for migraines.
They are the first treatment specifically developed as a preventative migraine treatment. Other medications used in migraine prevention were initially developed for other conditions but showed some efficacy as a migraine prevention treatment.
CGRP monoclonal antibodies are available on the NHS however they are a prescription only treatment and they’re usually administered via a monthly or tri-monthly injection. Examples of these medications include:
Erenumab (Aimovig)
Fremanezumab (Ajovy)
Galcanezumab (Emgality)
Eptinezumab (Vyepti)
We’ve included some information on treatments for migraines below:
| Medication Class | Generic Medication | Common Brands | Available Over The Counter? |
| Triptans | Almotriptan | Almogran | No |
| Rizatriptan | Maxalt | No | |
| Zolmitriptan | Zomig | No | |
| Sumatriptan | Imigran | 2 x 50mg tablets OTC, higher doses need prescription | |
| Pain Killers | Paracetamol | Panadol | Yes |
| Aspirin | Anadin Original | Yes | |
| Co-codamol | Solpadeine | Yes | |
| NSAIDs | Ibuprofen | Nurofen | Yes |
| Ibuprofen and Codeine | Nurofen Plus | Yes |
There are two types of migraine treatment preventative treatments, which prevent migraine onsets.
And symptomatic treatments, which help to treat migraines after onset. If you’re looking to alleviate a migraine attack some symptomatic treatments, you could consider are:
Status Migrainosus is a migraine attack that lasts 72 hours or longer. Sometimes a regular migraine can turn into Status Migrainosus if left untreated or unmanaged, however regardless, if you’re experiencing Status Migrainosus you should contact a physician.
When discussing migraines, ‘the 5 Cs’ refer to a set of commonly suspected triggers.
The 5 Cs are:
Whilst these food and drinks are widely reported as migraine attack triggers, it’s not fully understood why.
Keeping a headache diary will allow you to better manage your triggers and symptoms in a personalised way.
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