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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

Some migraines are preceded or accompanied by sensory warning symptoms (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg.

Medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. If treatment hasn't worked for you in the past, talk to your doctor about trying a different migraine headache medication. The right medicines, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, may make a tremendous difference.

Symptoms
References
  1. NINDS Migraine information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  2. Cutrer FM, et al. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  3. Boes CJ, et al. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1155758096&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50111-4&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&uniqId=240648610-3. Accessed May 1, 2011.
  4. Migraine. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  5. Headache diagnosis and testing. American Headache Society. http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/NAP_for_Web_-_Headache_Diagnosis_&_Testing.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  6. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headachehope.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  7. Migraine. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;301:2608.
  8. Calhoun AH. Estrogen-associated migraine. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  9. Hormones and migraines. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Hormones_and_Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  10. Bajwa ZH, et al. Acute treatment of migraine in adults. .http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  11. SSRIs, triptans and serotonin syndrome: What is the risk of serotonin syndrome in migraine? American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/SSRIsTriptansandSerotoninSyndrome.asp?print=y. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  12. Keeping a headache diary can help your doctor help you. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/pdf/How_Keep_Headache_Diary.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  13. Gilmore B, et al. Treatment of acute migraine headache. American Family Physician. 2011;83:271.
  14. Migraine prevention: A guide to the latest methods and treatments. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/migraine_module/page_home.htm. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  15. Fenstermacher N, et al. Pharmacological prevention of migraine. British Medical Journal. 2011;342:540.
  16. Bajwa ZH, et al. Preventive treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  17. Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  18. Chaibi A, et al. Manual therapies for migraine: A systematic review. Journal of Headache and Pain. 2011; epub Feb. 5.
  19. Exertional headaches. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Exertional_Headaches. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  20. FDA approves Botox to treat chronic migraine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm229782.htm. Accessed April 14, 2011.
DS00120 June 4, 2011

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