A migraine can cause severe or serious throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, generally on one side of the head and shoulder. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and highly sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain or attacks can last for hours to a whole day or more, and the pain can be unbearable or severe if it interferes with your routine activities.
For some people, a warning sign known as an aura occurs or experience before or with the headache. An aura can include visual disturbances (low vision, blurb vision), flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, like: tingling on one side of the face or in a leg or arm and difficulty speaking. Medications are much effective to prevent or stop (treat) some migraines and make them less painful. The correct drugs, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, might help.
Medication for migraine headaches can relieve the pain and signs or symptoms of a migraine attack and help prevent or stop further migraine attacks.
The main focus of abortive treatment is to stop or prevent a migraine once it starts. Abortive drugs prevent a migraine pain when you feel one coming or once it has begun. Abortive drugs can be used by mouth, skin patch, self-injection or nasal spray. These forms of drugs are especially helpful for people who have nausea or vomiting related to their migraine, and they work fast.
Abortive treatments include the triptans and ditans, which specifically focus on the brain chemical serotonin. They are all very similar or equal in their functioning and chemical structure. The triptans are used only to treat headache and do not relieve or relax pain from back problems, arthritis, menstruation, etc.
This type of treatment is considered if migraines occur or experienced by a patient frequently, generally more than one migraine per week, or if migraine symptoms are serious or severe. The main target is to reduce the frequency and severity of the migraine pain or attacks. Medications to prevent a migraine can be used daily.