How to relieve migraines?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on May 18, 2025
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Patients with migraines can take oral painkillers to alleviate the pain during an attack. If the patient also experiences nausea, they can take medication to protect the stomach lining and treat nausea and vomiting to relieve symptoms, since migraines do not pose a major threat to one's health. However, it is essential to confirm that the headache is indeed a migraine and not caused by conditions such as cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Typically, before a migraine attack, there are characteristic prodromal symptoms such as blurred vision or the appearance of wave-like patterns. These symptoms are followed shortly by unilateral or bilateral headaches, which can resolve completely within a few hours even without treatment. These symptoms tend to recur, which are indicative of typical migraines. During an episode, oral painkillers can be taken for relief. To prevent migraines, it is advisable to avoid staying up late, consuming pickled foods, cheese, and red wine as these can trigger migraines. It is recommended to avoid these foods as much as possible. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Migraine vertigo symptoms

There is a special type of migraine called vestibular migraine, where the main symptoms during an attack are significant dizziness, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and unsteady walking. A headache may or may not occur. This type of migraine-induced dizziness is relatively common in clinical practice, and patients generally experience severe dizziness, along with pale complexion and cold sweats among other clinical symptoms. The treatment for the dizziness caused by this type of migraine primarily follows the treatment protocols for migraine attacks, and may include taking certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications. Additionally, administering calcium channel blockers and antiemetic medications can also achieve very good results. Furthermore, some sedative medications can also be used and can improve the patient's symptoms.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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What should I do about migraines?

Patients with migraines can temporarily take oral painkillers to alleviate the symptoms, provided that it has been confirmed as a migraine attack, and not a headache caused by acute cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Typically, before a migraine attack, there may be an aura symptom involving changes in vision, followed by unilateral headache. These symptoms can recur, usually lasting several hours, and they can subside on their own without medication. These are the symptoms of migraines. Generally, migraines do not pose a significant health risk, so patients can temporarily treat it with symptomatic oral pain relief. During remission, it is advisable to take preventive measures such as avoiding staying up late, not overworking, and reducing the frequency of migraine attacks as much as possible.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to treat migraines

The incidence of migraines is still very high, and the pain can be quite severe, affecting patients' work and daily life, preventing them from resting well. The main treatments include the following: First, maintain the patient's emotional stability and keep the patient calm, avoiding strong lights and loud noises as much as possible to create a quiet environment. Second, administer oral non-steroidal analgesics for pain relief, or take ergot preparations for pain relief. Third, patients sometimes exhibit obvious anxiety and can take benzodiazepines for related treatment, as well as certain anti-anxiety medications. Fourth, if the patient experiences nausea and vomiting, symptomatic treatment should be given, including antiemetic medications. If the patient has frequent episodes, prophylactic treatment with receptor blockers can be used.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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The causes of migraine

Migraine is a very common type of headache in neurology, and the causes of migraines mainly include the following aspects. The first aspect, it may be caused by the dysfunction of vasoconstriction and dilation. Constriction of the blood vessels inside the skull leads to the precursor of migraine, and then dilation leads to the onset of the headache. The second reason to consider is that migraines may be caused by the cortical spreading depression. The third reason, it may also be due to trigeminal ganglion lesions causing migraine attacks, the specific mechanism of which is actually not very clear. The occurrence of a migraine also has some triggers, for example, consuming cheese, pickled products, chocolate, and wine can all potentially trigger migraines, which should be avoided.

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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.)