Migraine is a form of headache which is severe and usually one sided. It is often accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light and/or sound.
There are two main types of migraine, classical migraine and common migraine.
It may also include other symptoms including numbness and pins and needles in the arms, legs, face or tongue. Speech may also be temporarily affected.
- Prodrome stage which includes changes in mood, behaviour, appetite (food cravings) and
energy levels several hours or even days before and attack.
- Aura stage which usually lasts less than an hour involving visual, auditory (hearing),
sensory and physical disturbances.
- Headache, involving a throbbing pain in the head, sensitivity to light and/or noise, nausea
and/or vomiting. Symptoms last around 4-72 hours but will eventually go away by
- Resolution stage whereby the attack usually fades away but some may end suddenly by
- There may be a stage of exhaustion, weakness or lethargy.
- Foods e.g. caffeine, cheeses, chocolate, red wine.
- Changes in the weather.
- Physical exhaustion.
- Stress, anxiety.
- Hormonal changes e.g. before a period.
Sumatriptan became available without a prescription in June 2006.
Sumatriptan relieves the pain of a migraine headache as well as other commonly associated symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound and nausea. It acts like serotonin, the brain chemical involved in migraine, working at the root cause of migraine to help stop an attack. It can stop the headache and can help sufferers get back to normal within two hours.
The information provided on this website does not replace medical advice.
If you want to find out more, or are worried about any medical issue or symptoms that you may be experiencing, please contact our pharmacist or see your doctor.