Migraine Treatment

Migraines are more than just headaches — they can be intense and disruptive. In the UK, over 8.5 million people experience them.
Common migraine symptoms include:

• Severe, throbbing pain (often on one side of the head)
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting

Migraines are more common in women (1 in 5) than men (1 in 15). Most people have their first migraine before the age of 40.

What Causes Migraines?

The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but migraines may be linked to temporary changes in blood vessels in the brain.
They can be triggered by:

• Stress or anxiety
• Lack of sleep or sudden changes in routine
• Tiredness or poor posture
• Bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells
• Certain foods and drinks (e.g., alcohol, cheese)
• Some medications

Some people notice “auras” before a migraine — such as flashing lights or zigzag lines in their vision.Types of Migraine

• With aura– warning signs like visual changes before the pain starts
• Without aura– no early warning, just the migraine symptoms
• With aura but no headache– aura symptoms without the head pain

How Long Do They Last?

Migraines can last 4 to 72 hours.

Treatment Options

Migraine treatments aim to:

• Relieve symptoms– using painkillers like paracetamol or aspirin
• Target the cause– using medicines called triptans (e.g., sumatriptan) to narrow widened blood vessels in the brain and reduce symptoms

The right treatment depends on your migraine type, how often you get them, and how severe they are. Your GP can help you find what works best for you.

Migraine or Headache?

• Headache– usually a dull ache on both sides of the head
• Migraine– more severe, often one-sided, with extra symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity

Migraine Medicines Available

• Sumatriptan – 50mg, 100mg
• Eletriptan (Relpax®) – 40mg
• Frovatriptan – 2.5mg
• Naratriptan – 2.5mg
• Rizatriptan – 5mg, 10mg
• Zolmitriptan – 2.5mg, 5mg
• Rimegepant (Vydura®) – 75mg oral

New Migraine Treatment – Rimegepant (Vydura^®)

We’re now offering Rimegepant (Vydura®) 75mg oral lyophilisate — a new, fast-acting migraine medication that can be taken without water (it dissolves on the tongue).

Benefits of Rimegepant:

• Two-in-one use – can treat migraine attacks and be taken regularly to help prevent them
• Convenient – no swallowing tablets; great for when nausea makes it hard to take pills
• Fast absorption – designed to work quickly by dissolving in the mouth
• Non-triptan option – suitable for people who can’t take, or don’t respond well to, triptans
• Portable – small, discreet, and easy to carry

Rimegepant is suitable for adults with migraine, with or without aura. Always check with your GP or pharmacist before starting a new treatment.

Treatment information

• Sumatriptan succinate 50 mg or 100 mg film-coated tablets, Sumatriptan 10 mg or 20 mg nasal spray (Imigran^®), see SPC
• Eletriptan (RELPAX^®) 40 mg film-coated tablets, see SPC
• Frovatriptan 2.5 mg film-coated tablets, see SPC
• Naratriptan (Naramig^® or any generic) 2.5 mg film-coated tablets, see SPC
• Rizatriptan benzoate 5 mg or 10 mg tablets, see SPC
• Zolmitriptan 2.5 mg and 5 mg film-coated tablets, Zolmitriptan (Zomig^®) 5 mg nasal spray, see SPC
• Rimegepant (Vydura^®) 75mg oral lyophilisate, see SPC