A wide range of drugs may be prescribed to prevent migraine attacks from forming, and some medical treatments can help. Such approaches are considered especially in cases of chronic migraine, in which you have 15 or more headache episodes a month.
Top Strategies to Try for Migraine Relief
Caffeine, massage, ginger, and over-the-counter pain relievers are just a few of the methods used to help ease migraine pain. Identifying your triggers — and taking other medications — may even help prevent the pain altogether.
A migraine is more than just a headache. It’s a complex neurological condition that can cause a variety of symptoms.
If you experience migraines, you know how painful the condition can be — and how difficult it can be to make a migraine go away. Prevention and early action when a migraine strikes are key to keeping this condition under control.
Here are 12 tips you can try to help treat your migraine early and keep it from getting worse.
If you’ve ever put an ice pack on an injury or a heating pad on a sore back, you know the power of temperature therapy. This can also help when you have a migraine.
Cold therapy has been used to treat migraine for more than 100 years, but there are few scientific studies to suggest why it can help relieve pain for some people. Some theories have suggested that cold therapy can help constrict blood vessels or slow the nerve signals involved with migraine pain.
Even recent studies haven’t pinpointed exactly how cold can help relieve migraine pain , but two recent studies did find that ice bands around the neck , or ice packs applied at the onset of a migraine could significantly reduce the perception of migraine pain.
You may need to experiment to decide what feels best for you. Some people find that an ice pack applied to the head offers soothing, numbing relief. This is particularly helpful if sun or heat brought on your migraine.
Sensitivity to light and sound is one of the most common migraine symptoms. Get away from these things if you can. This can help you find relief from your pain and can alleviate stress.
Lie down and pay attention to your breathing. Try taking slow, deep breaths from your diaphragm. Feel your stomach rise with the inhale and fall with the exhale. This can help you relax.
Dehydration can cause headaches and even migraine, but new research shows hydration can reduce and possibly even prevent headache pain. In the study, people who drank their recommended daily water intake had headaches that were:
- less frequent
- less severe
- shorter in duration
If you don’t regularly drink enough water, increasing your intake may both help reduce your migraine pain and prevent repeat attacks.
For some, a cup of coffee may help stop a migraine. For others, caffeine can be a migraine trigger.
Regardless, if you do indulge in caffeine, make sure you don’t drink too much. Drinking more than one cup of coffee could set you up for a caffeine withdrawal headache later.
People with migraine who use caffeine more than 3 days per week may develop a dependency. This can lead to more headaches. Moderation is key with caffeine, but it helps many people find relief.
People have to eat to survive, and chewing is an important part of eating. However, studies suggest that excessive chewing might be linked to more headaches and even migraine.
Researchers focused on gum-chewing for the study and found that tension headaches and migraine were more common in people who chewed gum frequently.
While you can’t avoid eating, you may want to rethink chewing gum if you regularly experience migraine. You may also want to consider if you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping, as this could have a similar effect.
Things like extreme stress, a change in sleeping habits, and even strenuous physical activity have been linked to migraine.
While deep breathing and relaxation exercises alone may not cure a migraine completely, these techniques have been shown to lower stress levels and may shorten the duration and severity of migraine pain. Regular meditation and stress-reduction strategies can also help prevent migraine from developing in the first place.
A massage might be a good way to relax and practice self-care, but it can also help relieve tension and may even prevent headaches and migraine. One study found that 8 out of 10 people had their headache pain cut in half with just one massage treatment, and most reported nearly immediate relief.
Where you get a massage can play a role too. Research on pressure points and reflexology in managing headaches suggests that even massages on the feet, hands, and earlobes may help relieve migraine pain.
Some foods can trigger migraine, but others can help get rid of them. Ginger is one of these foods. A new study found that ginger was able to reduce migraine pain significantly in 2 hours, as well as reducing the nausea and vomiting that might be associated with migraine.
While most of the studies used ginger powders, there are all kinds of products that might offer relief, including teas and candies.
Medications are the first thing many people look to when they have a headache, and migraine is no different in this sense. There are many products that can help relieve migraine pain. These can include over-the-counter pain relievers and more targeted prescription therapies.
Below is a list of medications that are used for treating acute migraine pain:
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- aspirin
- diclofenac (Cataflam)
- ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- naproxen (Aleve)
- almotriptan (Axert)
- eletriptan (Relpax)
- frovatriptan (Frova)
- naratriptan (Amerge)
- rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT)
- sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- sumatriptan and naproxen (Treximet)
- zolmitriptan (Zomig)
- chlorpromazine
- droperidol
- metoclopramide (Reglan)
- prochlorperazine (Compazine)
- promethazine (Phenergan)
- dihydroergotamine (DHE-45, Migranal)
- ketorolac (Toradol)
- rimegepant (Nurtec ODT)
- ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
- lasmiditan (Reyvow)
Other medications may also be used, but the goal of these medications will be to prevent migraine rather than to treat them. Examples include:
- divalproex (Depakote)
- metoprolol (Lopressor)
- propranolol (Inderal)
- timolol (Istalol)
- topiramate (Topimax)
- amitriptyline
- atenolol (Tenormin)
- nadolol (Corgard)
- naratriptan (amerge)
- venlafaxine (Effexor)
- calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists (Qulipta, rimegepant)
- CGRP monoclonal antibodies (Emgality)
- candesartan (Amias)
- onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox)
Which of these medications — or combination of medications — you use will depend on your individual health, other medications you’re taking, the severity of your migraine, and your symptoms. For migraine prevention, avoiding triggers is key.
If you suffer from regular migraine, talk with your doctor about how to prevent them from happening. One of the best ways to do this is to identify and avoid things that can trigger your migraine.
Many doctors recommend that their patients with migraine keep a journal of what they ate or what they were doing when they developed a migraine to look for patterns. Everyone has different triggers and these can range from sleep patterns to certain foods. Even a lack of food, and the low blood sugar or hypoglycemia that results, can lead to a migraine.
If you have identified your triggers, try to avoid them. If you haven’t, consider keeping a headache diary to track your triggers. There are even apps available that can help track and analyze your triggers.
When it comes to treating your migraine, timing is everything. Waiting too long to address your migraine symptoms or take preventive steps can increase how often — and how severely — a migraine strikes.
Some people get warning signs called auras that tell them a migraine is coming. The American Migraine Foundation recommends taking your medication during the prodromal phase of the attack. A prodrome is a warning sign that a migraine is developing. Treating your symptoms in the early stages is your best chance at avoiding a more severe migraine.
One challenge of early treatment is knowing the signs. Prodromal signs can vary widely between people, but they often include things like:
- sensitivity to light or sound
- mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety, or euphoria
- trouble concentrating
- food cravings, usually carbohydrates
- fatigue or yawning
If you’ve had a migraine for a long time, you may be able to easily spot your prodromal symptoms. This will help you be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to treating your pain. If you have migraines frequently or without much notice, you may want to keep your migraine medications with you at all times so you can take them as soon as an attack begins.
Developing a good relationship with the doctor who’s helping you manage your migraine is important. Review your symptoms and triggers with your doctor. Together, you can create a treatment plan that will not only help you manage the pain when a migraine happens, but also keep them from developing in the first place.
A good treatment plan should include:
- identifying the type of migraine you have
- identifying triggers
- avoiding triggers
- taking steps to promote good overall health, including getting enough sleep and eating well
- staying hydrated
- identifying medications and other strategies to help prevent migraine
- establishing a plan for acute migraine treatment
- talking with your doctor about when to seek additional help
The intense pain that comes with a migraine can be intense and debilitating. Talk with your doctor about when to seek emergency treatment.
Intense pain isn’t usually considered an emergency, but if that pain is interfering with your ability to complete your daily tasks, it’s definitely a situation that requires more care. If you can’t get an appointment with your doctor, you may want to consider emergency or urgent care services.
You should seek treatment immediately if you have an intense headache that causes things like:
- uncontrollable vomiting
- loss of consciouness
- seizures or convulsions
- blurred vision or other vision changes
- loss of balance or coordination
- lightheadedness
- a pounding in your chest or high blood pressure
There are many things you can do to prevent and treat migraine pain, but not there isn’t one treatment that works all the time for everyone.
The key to treating migraine is to know and avoid your triggers, treat symptoms early, and find medications or therapies that work best to relieve your specific type of migraine pain.
You should also develop a support system to lean on when a migraine strikes. You may be limited in what you’re able to do while dealing with migraine pain, and support from others is a powerful coping tool.
You can find a diverse community of real people who experience migraine in our free app, Migraine Healthline. Ask questions, seek advice, and access expert resources on managing migraine. Download the app for iPhone or Android.
How to Get Rid of a Migraine Fast
Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University.
Updated on September 14, 2022
Huma Sheikh, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in migraine and stroke, and affiliated with Mount Sinai of New York.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Treating a migraine at the first sign is the quickest way to get relief. Taking medications and incorporating certain lifestyle changes and strategies to avoid triggers can help you manage and treat your migraines. This article discusses how to get rid of a migraine fast, as well as treatment options and how to prevent future migraines.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Common Migraine Causes
Migraines can be set off by different stimuli, foods, and conditions. These triggers vary from person to person, with the most common including:
Emotional stress: Anxiety and emotional stress can release hormones that cause blood vessels to become narrowed, or constricted, causing the onset of symptoms.
Certain foods: Various foods contain substances that can trigger migraines in some individuals, including foods with certain preservatives (especially nitrates, the additives in cured meats), wine or other alcohol, aged cheeses, fermented foods, and foods that are pickled.
Caffeine: The presence or absence of caffeine, as in coffee or certain teas, can affect the dilation of the vessels. Depending on the case, both too much of this substance or withdrawal from it can bring on migraines.
Hormonal changes: The fluctuation of estrogen levels caused by menstrual periods or menopause is another common trigger. Rapid hormonal shifts also occur when you take certain kinds of birth control pills or undergo hormone replacement therapy.
Certain stimuli: Bright sunlight, flashing lights, fluorescent lights, or the glow of TVs or computer screens can also be triggers. In addition, certain odors, smoke, or perfumes can bring on attacks in some people, as can very loud noises.
Other triggers: Disruptions in sleep patterns, dehydration, changing weather patterns, fatigue, and some medications can increase the likelihood of migraines. In addition, frequent or excessive use of pain medications can lead to attacks, a condition called medication overuse headache (MOH).
Who’s More Prone to Migraines?
Certain people are more prone to developing migraines. There’s a strong genetic component. In fact, approximately 80% of people who experience migraines have a parent, sibling, or child with the condition. People who menstruate are more likely to get migraines than people who do not. Obesity is another risk factor.
Getting Rid of a Migraine
Once a migraine begins, try to be proactive. The sooner you can start mitigating its effects, the better off you’ll be. This may involve taking over-the-counter and prescribed medicines and other measures you can take to help with the symptoms.
Medications
A range of medications is at the front line of relieving migraine attacks. Delivered as tablets or pills, nasal sprays, suppositories, or injections, they include:
- Over-the-counter painkillers: Widely available pain-relieving drugs, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil Migraine (ibuprofen), and Excedrin Migraine (aspirin) may work for mild attacks. These, however, may cause MOH.
- Triptans: Regarded as the most successful prescription class of drugs for a migraine attack, triptans like sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and others are the first-line treatment. Not only do they help with pain, but they also treat associated nausea, light sensitivity, and other symptoms.
- Dopamine antagonist antiemetics: Antiemetics are drugs for nausea and vomiting and may help with migraines. Most commonly prescribed are Compazine (prochlorperazine), Thorazine (chlorpromazine), and Reglan (metoclopramide).
- Opioids: Stronger pain-killing drugs, such as butorphanol, codeine, ConZip (tramadol), and Demerol (meperidine), can help manage headaches. However, these should be used sparingly, as they have many side effects and have high abuse potential.
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors: A newer medication that blocks the effect of CGRP, a small protein that is involved in pain transmission during a migraine attack.
Furthermore, transcutaneous nerve stimulation—the delivery of mild electric currents to specific nerve areas through the skin using wearable devices—can be done at home. When migraines start, the electricity essentially scrambles the pain message.
Other Methods
The following methods may also help relieve pain:
- Finding a quiet, dark place to rest with your eyes closed
- Taking a nap
- Icing or placing a cool cloth on your forehead
- Drinking water
- Having a caffeinated beverage
Ways to Manage and Prevent Migraines
Since there’s no cure for migraine, managing the condition means figuring out ways to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and other symptoms. Along with medications and medical treatments, lifestyle changes and other at-home strategies can play a crucial role.
Preventive Medications and Treatments
A wide range of drugs may be prescribed to prevent migraine attacks from forming, and some medical treatments can help. Such approaches are considered especially in cases of chronic migraine, in which you have 15 or more headache episodes a month.
Several types of preventative migraine medications may be prescribed. The most common of these are:
- Tricyclic antidepressants: Elavil (amitriptyline) and Pamelor (nortriptyline)
- Beta-blockers: Tenormin (atenolol) and Inderal (propranolol)
- Antiepileptic drugs: Depakote (valproic acid) and Topamax (topirimate)
- Calcium channel blockers: Calan (verapamil)
- Calcitonin gene-related (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies: Vyepti (eptinezumab) and Ajovy (fremanezumab)
Additionally, in cases in which medications aren’t yielding results, Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) injections can be considered. In this therapy, doctors target specific areas in your forehead, temples, sides, and back of the head and neck. Though the frequency and intensity of migraines are reduced, the effect is temporary, and appointments are needed every three months.
When the condition is associated with the menstrual cycle, hormone replacement therapy may be attempted.
Lifestyle Changes
A comprehensive migraine management plan will also involve lifestyle changes and strategies to avoid triggers. This includes:
- Tracking headaches: Keep a headache diary and note attacks’ frequency, intensity, and duration. Log what you discover is triggering the condition, and avoid triggers as much as possible.
- Regular sleep: Disruptions in sleep patterns can bring on migraines, and irregular sleep predisposes you to them. Go to bed and wake up at consistent times every day to prevent attacks.
- Losing weight: Since obesity can predispose you to migraines, exercising, changing your diet, and taking other measures to lose weight can reduce the frequency of attacks.
- Biofeedback: Special devices can be worn on the head to detect physiological markers of stress and tension. This helps you identify when you’re feeling stressed, making you better able to head off related attacks.
Vitamins and Natural Treatments
Along with medical management and lifestyle changes, some doctors may also recommend you take certain vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements. These may include:
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Magnesium
- Feverfew
- Butterbur
- Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Always check with your doctor before taking any new supplements. They can help you determine if the supplement is safe for you and doesn’t interfere with any of your medications.
Exercise
Among the most commonly recommended interventions for migraines is ensuring you’re getting enough exercise. Following are ways exercise can help:
- Depression and anxiety management: The release of endorphins from exercise promotes positive feelings and can help with anxiety and depression, which are often associated with migraines.
- Better sleep: Those who get regular exercise also enjoy better quality sleep, which can help prevent migraines.
- Stress relief: Another benefit of the endorphin release related to exercise is that it can help manage stress. For many, the daily workout is a healthy way to unwind.
- Weight management: Since obesity is a common risk factor for migraines, exercising—along with diet—to lose weight can be a means of managing the condition.
How much exercise should you aim for? If you don’t currently have a routine, try 150 minutes of light-to-moderate activity a week, or 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Start small and scale up. Also, be wary of working too hard, as overexertion can trigger attacks.
Yoga
Yoga may also be recommended along with other treatments as a means to help prevent migraines. The deep breathing and stretching associated with this practice can help ease stress, a common migraine trigger.
According to one study in the International Journal of Yoga, yoga can help when paired with other treatments. Compared to people using just standard therapies, those who combined other therapies with yoga sessions five days a week for six weeks reported a reduced frequency and intensity of attacks. In addition, yoga was associated with boosting the quality of life of migraine patients.
Mindfulness and Mediation
Another commonly recommended approach to managing migraines is incorporating mindfulness and meditation. Like yoga and exercise, the principal benefit is that this kind of practice helps reduce stress, preventing attacks. However, as with other methods, this is considered an adjunct therapy to be used alongside other treatments
For migraines, mindfulness approaches involve focusing on the present moment. This may mean breathing and visualization exercises, and thinking more broadly about your needs and immediate situation. It can help to practice mindfulness in your daily life.
Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation uses devices that deliver mild shocks or magnetic impulses through the skin to change the brain’s electrical patterns. This scrambles the pain messaging pathways and may reduce their activity long-term. A growing body of research has shown this therapy effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.
Generally considered when medications haven’t yielded results or are likely to cause adverse effects, several devices that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are:
- Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulator: This handheld device, when held to the appropriate area of the skull, delivers magnetic fields to nerves in the brain. It’s a treatment for migraine attacks with aura and a preventive measure.
- Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulator: Activity in the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain stem to the chest and abdomen, is associated with migraines. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulators are handheld devices that deliver mild electrical shocks here. Both acute and preventive treatments were cleared for use in children ages 12–17 in 2021.
- Multichannel brain neuromodulation system: In March of 2021, the FDA approved a wearable headset that delivers electricity to several nerves in the brain. A treatment to take on attacks after they’ve started, reducing pain intensity and light and sound sensitivity.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture and acupressure, which involve stimulating nerve pathways using needles and physical pressure, may also help. In one review of 22 studies assessing data from 4,985 people with migraine, regular acupuncture reduced headache frequency by about 50% in 59% of the patients.
Common Migraine Symptoms
Migraine headaches typically last about four hours, though they can last up to three days, especially if untreated. The location of the pain and its intensity can vary throughout the course of the attacks. The headache may affect one side of the head or both, and it can spread to the face or jaw.
Migraine attacks are typically preceded by a prodrome phase, during which symptoms start to set in, as well as a postdrome phase, characterized by:
- Inability to concentrate
- Depressed mood
- Fatigue
- Speech and reading problems
- Sleep disturbances
- Light and sound sensitivity
In addition, some experience migraine with aura. In these cases, a phase of the episode is characterized by:
- Visual disturbances, such as blurry spots, sparkles, or lines
- Numbness and tingling
- Temporary loss of sight in one or both eyes
- Muscle weakness on one side of the body
- Affected speech
Migraines also cause other symptoms, including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irritability, depression, anxiety, giddiness, and inability to concentrate
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
- Fatigue
- Chills or hot flashes
- Pale skin
- Loss of appetite
When to Seek Professional Treatment
Knowing when you need to see a doctor is another critical aspect of living with migraines. Get emergency medical help if you experience:
- A headache worse than any you’ve experienced in the past
- Problems speaking, along with vision and motor function
- Loss of balance or other neurological symptoms
- Sudden onset of headache
In addition, call your doctor if any of the following happens:
- There’s a change in the pattern of your headaches.
- Your treatments aren’t working anymore.
- You’re experiencing side effects from medications.
- You’ve started taking birth control while on medications.
- You’re taking pain medications three or more days a week.
- Headaches are worse when you’re lying down.
A Word From Verywell
Migraines are not “just” headaches. They’re debilitating, come at any time, and give rise to a range of symptoms. Living with migraines means being proactive and vigilant. It means knowing what to do when you have attacks and figuring out ways of preventing them.
If you’re struggling with migraines or headaches, make sure to talk to your doctor about what you can do. With their help, you’ll find strategies to ease and minimize this condition’s impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get rid of a migraine fast without medicine?
- Icing or using heat compresses on your head
- Resting with your eyes closed in a dark, quiet place
- Taking a nap
- Drinking water
- Having a coffee, tea, or caffeinated drink
How long should you sleep to get rid of a migraine fast?
Increasingly, researchers are finding links between sleep cycles and migraines. This is why ensuring you get good, consistent sleep is essential to preventing attacks. It’s also why going to sleep can stop migraines. No set amount of sleep time is known to be necessary, and every case varies. Make sure you rest and avoid stimulation until you’re sure that symptoms have passed.
Will pressure points help you get rid of migraines quickly?
Along with other ways to treat migraine attacks, there is some evidence that acupressure—a traditional Chinese medical approach involving applying pressure on a specific part of the body—may help you manage the pain. Evidence suggests that pressure on several points can help, Li4, or “Hegu,” found between the thumb and forefinger, and PC6—on the inside arm, about three finger lengths up from the wrist—have been found to help with nausea.
What foods can trigger migraines?
- Alcohol
- Bread and other leavened products
- Cheese
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruit
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Tomatoes
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