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Migraine

Throbbing headache, often with nausea and light sensitivity. Treatable and preventable.

Speak to a GP about migraineFrom £79

In short

Migraine is a common, treatable, and often preventable cause of disabling headaches. A GP can confirm the diagnosis, treat attacks, reduce their frequency, and make sure the rare serious causes of headache aren't missed.

Overview

What is migraine?

Migraine is a neurological condition causing recurrent, often one-sided throbbing headaches, frequently with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people get an aura (visual or sensory changes) beforehand. Attacks can be disabling but are very treatable, both to relieve attacks and, where frequent, to prevent them.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • A moderate-to-severe, often throbbing headache, frequently one-sided
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Aura before the headache (visual disturbances, tingling) in some people
  • Attacks lasting hours to a few days

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP if headaches are recurrent, disabling, or not controlled by over-the-counter painkillers, or if you want preventive treatment. Call 999 for a sudden severe headache, or headache with fever and neck stiffness, confusion, weakness, or slurred speech.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • A sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache that peaks within seconds to minutes (call 999)
  • Headache with a stiff neck, fever, rash, confusion, or drowsiness (call 999)
  • Headache with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, or vision loss (possible stroke, call 999)
  • A new or very different headache, especially over age 50, or that's progressively worsening

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Assessment to confirm migraine and rule out other causes of headache
  • Advice on acute treatment (triptans, anti-sickness, and pain relief)
  • Identifying and managing triggers (sleep, stress, caffeine, dehydration, hormones)
  • Preventive medication for frequent migraines where appropriate
  • A headache diary approach to improve control
  • Referral to neurology for difficult or unusual cases

What we don't do

  • Emergency assessment of sudden severe or red-flag headaches (call 999)
  • Brain scans and specialist neurology (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about migraine starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about migraine

What's the best treatment for a migraine attack?
Taking treatment early helps. Options include triptans (migraine-specific medicines), anti-sickness tablets, and appropriate painkillers. We can advise what suits you and prescribe where appropriate.
Can migraines be prevented?
Yes. If you have frequent attacks, preventive medication and trigger management can reduce how often and how badly they happen. A headache diary helps guide this.
What triggers migraines?
Common triggers include poor or changed sleep, stress, missed meals, dehydration, caffeine, alcohol, and hormonal changes. Triggers vary, so tracking yours is useful.
When is a headache serious?
A sudden severe headache, or headache with fever and neck stiffness, confusion, weakness, slurred speech, or vision loss, needs emergency assessment (999). A new or changing headache over 50 should be checked.
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Ready to talk to a GP about migraine?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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