Specific treatment for migraines will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- type of migraine
- severity and frequency of the migraine
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- your opinion or preference
The ultimate goal of migraine treatment is to stop migraines from occurring. Adequate management depends on the accurate identification of the type of headache and may include:
- avoiding known triggers, such as certain foods and beverages, lack of sleep, and fasting
- changing eating habits
- exercise
- resting in a quiet, dark environment
- medications, as recommended by your physician
- stress management
Migraine headaches may require specific medication management and treatment including:
- abortive medications - medications, prescribed by your physician, that act on specific receptors in blood vessels in the head, stopping a headache once it is in progress.
- rescue medications - medications purchased over-the-counter, such as analgesics (pain relievers), to stop the headache.
- preventive medications - medications prescribed by your physician that are taken daily to reduce the onset of severe migraine headaches.
Some headaches may require immediate medical attention, including hospitalization for observation, diagnostic testing, or even surgery. Treatment is individualized depending on the underlying condition causing the headache. Full recovery depends on the type of headache and other medical problems that may be present.