Migraine with aura

These medications come in various preparations to enable administration via different routes. For example, patients who experience vomiting and cannot keep pills down may benefit from a nasal spray or injectable dose.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if taking an ergotamine-containing medication and you are likely to become pregnant (these medications can have serious side effects to a developing fetus).

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TREATING SYMPTOMS

Other medications are primarily given to treat the symptoms of migraine. Used alone or in combinations, these drugs can minimize pain, nausea, or emotional distress caused by the migraine. Some of these medications may also have some effect on the underlying process in addition to providing symptomatic relief. Medications in this category include:

Anti-emetics (e.g., prochlorperazine)
Sedatives (e.g., butalbital)
Anti-inflammatories (e.g., ibuprofen)
Acetaminophen
Narcotic analgesics (e.g., meperidine)

Support Groups:

For additional resources, see migraine support group.

Expectations (prognosis):

Migraine headaches usually do not represent a significant threat to your health. However, in rare circumstances, people with migraine may be at risk of serious complications. A severe migraine may result in a stroke, possibly due to prolonged constriction of blood vessels. Some people may have side effects of medications. A physician should choose the appropriate medications based on symptoms and other conditions.

Experienced physicians can identify patients who may be at increased risk from these complications and can provide treatment that reduces such risk.

The large number of people affected by migraine has led to extensive research into finding effective treatment. In the future, expect that new medications will continue to be developed.

Calling your health care provider:

If a person has any of the following, call for an evaluation by a physician immediately:

Speech, vision, balance, movement, sensation, and other neurological problems, particularly if the person has NOT had these symptoms with previous headaches
Loss of consciousness
A change in headache pattern
The worst headache in one's life
Headaches that are more severe when lying down
A headache that starts extremely abruptly

Such headaches may be the result of stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, aneurysm, or other serious condition and require the immediate attention of a physician.

Depending on the history of the headache, a CT scan or MRI may be done to rule out any of the above conditions.

Also contact your healthcare provider if:

Previously effective treatments are no longer helpful.
Side effects of medications occur, including irregular heartbeat, changes in skin color (pale or blue), extreme sleepiness, persistent cough, depression, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain or cramps, dry mouth, extreme thirst, among others.