Call a doctor if any of the following occur:
Go to a hospital emergency department if any of the following occur:
Most migraineurs can manage mild-to-moderate attacks at home with the following strategies:
Regular follow-up care with a doctor is a must. Keeping a pain journal to monitor the frequency of attacks and the medications used can be very helpful. It may take several doctor visits before an effective treatment plan is found.
Migraine triggers should be identified and avoided. Making individual lifestyle changes is very important. Changes may include avoiding certain types of foods and certain emotional situations. If missing meals triggers headaches, the migraineur should make every effort to eat on a regular basis. In some instances, the use of biofeedback may help reduce the severity and frequency of attacks.
After the headaches are under control, the prognosis is very good. However, patience is the key. As noted previously, it may take several attempts before an effective treatment plan is found.
Treating migraine is an art more than a science. No "cookbook" recipe is effective for every person. A drug that works well for one migraineur may not provide any relief for another. A combination of different medications is sometimes needed to treat resistant headaches.
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