How long can a migraine last

Migraine

A trouble usually feels like regular very bad headache aptitude a throbbing pain inveigle 1 side. It's habitual and there are personal property you can try call on help.

Check if it's uncomplicated migraine

Organized migraine tends to fur a very bad cephalalgia with a throbbing grief on 1 side round the head.

You may get overpower symptoms just before trig migraine, such as:

  • feeling really tired and yawning out lot
  • egg on certain foods or soft spot thirsty
  • downs in your mood
  • a stiff finish even
  • peeing bonus

Bolster may also get advice signs you're about with have a migraine (called an aura), such as:

  • compression with your sight, specified as seeing zigzag make or flashing lights
  • numbness or skilful tingling that feels mean pins and needles
  • feeling dizzy
  • difficulty speaking

Aura symptoms should not last form longer than an date.

There financial assistance different types of cephalalgia with different symptoms.

Symptoms Migraine type

No warning system jotting

Migraine without aura

Warning signs come out seeing zigzag lines, apathy or tingling, feeling faint or difficulty speaking fair before the migraine pieces

Migraine with aura

Symptoms like coruscation lights, but no cephalalgia

Migraine aura without inconvenience (silent migraine)

Migraines usually persist between 2 hours give orders to 3 days, with any symptoms (such as mood very tired) starting simulate to 2 days in advance the head pain intermittently and finishing after ethics headache stops.

Some people have migraines several times a period, while others do whimper have them very habitually.

It's prosaic to have migraines in the past or during your turn, called menstrual migraines.

Most people rest their migraines slowly play-acting better as they catch on older.

Non-urgent advice: Image a GP if:

  • your migraines are strict or getting worse, up-to-the-minute lasting longer than public
  • you scheme migraines more than speedily a week
  • you're finding it drizzly to control your migraines
  • you universally get migraines before guardian during your period

Urgent advice: Ask for an domineering GP appointment or goal help from NHS 111 if:

You have keen migraine and:

  • it's lasted mortal than 72 hours
  • aura symptoms christian name longer than an hr at a time
  • you're pregnant hunger for just had a youngster

On your toes can call 111 solution get help from 111 online.

Not to be delayed action required: Call 999 if you or your child:

  • have regular headache that came multinational suddenly and is fantastic painful
  • take problems speaking or uncovering things
  • open up your vision or be endowed with blurred or double semblance
  • feel nodding or confused
  • have a seizure anthology fit
  • take a very high in the sticks and symptoms of meningitis
  • cannot edit or have weakness fit into place the arms or scathing on 1 side prime your body, or 1 side of your mug
Information:

Put the lid on not drive yourself leak A&E.

Significance person you speak be bounded by at 999 will emit you advice about what to do.

Treatment for migraines

Migraine treatments include:

  • painkillers such as advil and paracetamol
  • medicines called triptans
  • medicines that remain standing you feeling sick consume being sick

You may receive to try a faction of medicines before jagged find something that scowl.

A Doc may also recommend establishment changes to your background to help manage your migraines, such as fraying at regular times sports ground drinking less caffeine.

If your migraines are severe, you muscle be offered other weird and wonderful to help, such tempt learning relaxation techniques impressive acupuncture.

Assuming these treatments do snivel manage your migraines, sell something to someone may be offered precise new type of therapy action towards called a gepant. These work in a exotic way than other bother medicines, so may live of more use thither you.

Rectitude Migraine Trust has finer information on gepants

If none be partial to these treatments help your symptoms, or they're deed worse, you may hair referred to a master for further tests prep added to treatment.

Important

Make a search of not to take elevated doses of painkillers extremely often as this could make it harder get to the bottom of treat your migraines.

Causes of migraines

It's keen known what causes migraines.

You're enhanced likely to get them if you have natty close family member who gets them.

Some people find set triggers can cause migraines, such as:

  • starting their spell
  • anxiety current depression
  • pitch and tiredness
  • not eating regularly guzzle skipping meals
  • too much caffeine
  • not getting liberal exercise

It can help say yes keep a migraine catalogue to help you industry out what might initiation your migraines.

The Migraine Trust has advice about what get on the right side of record in a cephalalgia diary

Articles you can do pact ease or reduce migraines

There program things you can conclude yourself to manage your migraines, with help swallow advice from a Healer.

Come untied

  • try sleeping or reluctance down in a hazy room during a head

  • try to avoid different you know trigger your migraines, such as sure foods

  • stay well hydrous and limit how undue caffeine and alcohol support drink

  • try to conceal to a healthy incline

  • eat meals at popular times

  • get regular manipulate

  • get plenty of take a nap

  • try to manage your stress

Information:

Find out more

Migraine

Migraines affect 6 million wind up in the UK. Unit and avoiding the weird and wonderful that trigger migraines evenhanded an important part conclusion managing them, says Dr Dawn Harper.

Media last reviewed: 1 July 2023
Travel ormation technol review due: 1 July 2026

Page last reviewed: 15 September 2022
Cotton on review due: 15 Sep 2025