What should I do if I have severe migraines?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Migraine is a very common type of headache with a high incidence rate. Severe migraines can lead to nausea, vomiting, and even an inability to move, significantly impacting the patient's life and work. When migraines are severe, they can be managed by taking oral medications, specifically drugs that target migraines, mainly ergot preparations and triptans. However, these medications should not be used by patients with severe hypertension or by pregnant women. Additionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be taken to provide relief. Furthermore, symptomatic treatment should be administered for nausea and vomiting, using antiemetic drugs. If migraines frequently occur and severely affect life, preventive treatments can also be undertaken with oral medications. These mainly include receptor blockers and calcium channel antagonists.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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How to quickly relieve a migraine

Migraines can be quickly alleviated by taking oral painkillers, but this is under the precondition that the diagnosis confirms a migraine attack, rather than some other acute cerebrovascular diseases. If it is an acute cerebrovascular event, taking oral analgesics may mask the symptoms and delay appropriate treatment. Typically, before a migraine attack, there may be premonitory symptoms such as blurred vision or other changes in vision. After these premonitory symptoms appear, headache on one side of the head occurs, and these symptoms may recur. When the symptoms alleviate, they disappear completely. This is a typical migraine attack. Generally, migraines do not pose a major threat to one's health, and symptomatic oral analgesics can quickly relieve the pain. However, it is also necessary to rule out acute cerebrovascular diseases, such as cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can also cause headache on one side. If the headache on one side is persistent, a cranial CT scan should be conducted to rule this out. (Please take medications under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How many days can a migraine recover?

For most cases of migraines, patients generally recover within three days. If migraine-specific medications are administered, recovery can be faster, with symptoms significantly alleviated within a day. If a migraine persists for more than three days without recovery, it is known as a status migraine, and specific migraine medications need to be used, such as ergot preparations or triptan drugs, which are effective. Some patients with prolonged migraine duration may need sedatives and drugs to reduce intracranial pressure for symptomatic treatment. Patients with migraines must ensure adequate rest, ensure good sleep, and maintain stable emotions. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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migraine symptoms

The typical symptoms of migraine include unilateral pulsating headaches, usually located in the temporal area, where the patient can feel a pronounced throbbing of blood vessels. However, some patients may experience bilateral fluctuating headaches; bilateral headaches should not exclude the diagnosis of migraines. Patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and clinical manifestations such as aggravation of headache during routine activities, and may also exhibit symptoms of restlessness and unease. Additionally, some patients may experience visual auras, such as flashing lights or black spots in front of their eyes, before a migraine attack.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can migraines cause vomiting?

Patients with migraines may experience vomiting, which is one of the most common complications of migraines. The occurrence of vomiting in migraines is mainly because the headache may affect the vomiting center in the brainstem, such as affecting the solitary nucleus. Damage to the solitary nucleus can lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction and result in vomiting. Many patients find that their headache symptoms are alleviated after vomiting. In terms of treatment, on one hand, it is necessary to correct the occurrence of migraines, mainly by administering pain relief medications and allowing the patient to rest in a quiet environment. For vomiting, antiemetic medications can be given to the patient, either orally or by muscle injection. Most patients show significant clinical improvement after treatment. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
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How to suppress migraine and vomiting?

Patients with migraines typically experience unilateral or bilateral pulsating headaches. During severe headache episodes, they often experience significant symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This is because migraines can disrupt autonomic nervous function, and some neural nuclei in the brainstem emit impulses that cause nausea and vomiting. The treatment for vomiting includes the following aspects: First, patients should rest and avoid consuming foods that are hard to digest or are very tough. Second, patients can take orally or receive muscle injections of medications that treat vomiting, primarily those that promote gastrointestinal motility. Third, treating the migraine itself involves providing the patient with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief. Once the headache is alleviated, the nausea and vomiting will naturally subside.