Anoop K. Reddy, M.D.

Migraines are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Symptoms can be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Migraines can often be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes a migraine is preceded or accompanied by sensory warning symptoms or signs (auras), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg.

Migraines usually being in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. A typical migraine attack produces some or all of these signs and symptoms...

•  Moderate to severe pain, which may be confined to one side of the head or may affect both sides
• Head pain with a pulsating or throbbing quality
• Pain that worsens with physical activity
• Pain that interferes with your regular activities
  
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories...

• Pain relieving medications:
  Also know an acute or abortive treatment, these type are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms that have already begun.
• Preventive medications: These type are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce severity or frequency of migraine.