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July 14, 2017
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Migraine and Cluster Headache Medications

What Are Migraine and Cluster Headaches?

  • Migraines are headaches that most likely stem from problems with blood vessels in the head.
  • Migraine headaches typically last from 4-72 hours.
  • They may happen as often as several times a week to only once a year.
  • Migraine headaches cause moderate-to-severe pain. The pain may be located on one or both sides of the head, in the back of the neck, or around the face or eyes.
  • Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stuffy nose, and/or watery eyes may occur. Some people have tunnel vision or see spots or halos.
  • People who have migraines are called migraineurs.
  • Cluster headaches are vascular headaches that occur almost daily in episodes, or “clusters,” over weeks to months.
  • The pain is severe and comes on very suddenly. Pain usually affects one side of the face and is accompanied by nasal congestion, runny nose, and watery eyes.
  • In contrast to migraine headaches, cluster headaches occur more frequently in males.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/11/2016
Medical Author:
Mary L Windle, PharmD
Medical Editor:
Joseph Carcione Jr, DO, MBA
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James H Halsey, MD
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Migraine Headaches - Abortive Therapy

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Cluster Headaches - Abortive Therapy

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Migraine Headaches - Preventive Therapy

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Cluster Headaches - Preventive Therapy

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Migraine Headache Home Remedies

Most migraineurs can manage mild-to-moderate attacks at home with the following strategies:

  • Using a cold compress on the area of pain
  • Resting with pillows comfortably supporting the head or neck
  • Resting in a room with little or no sensory stimulation (from light, sound, or odors)
  • Withdrawing from stressful surroundings
  • Sleeping
  • Drinking a moderate amount of caffeine
  • Trying certain over-the-counter headache medications
Read more about migraine headache causes and symptoms »

Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Migraine Headache »

Although migraine is a term applied to certain headaches with a vascular quality, overwhelming evidence suggests that migraine is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by varying degrees of recurrent vascular-quality headache, photophobia, sleep disruption, and depression.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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