Migraine

 Welcome to our Migraine treatment service

Get relief from the symptoms of a Migraine attack. Tablets and nasal spray available on prescription.

New guidelines for Online Pharmacies require us to diagnose a condition before offering prescription medicines to a patient. Here at Nationwide Pharmacies, our doctors have been working hard to develop an online asthma diagnostic service. This new service will provide our patients with an accurate diagnosis of their condition. Following the diagnosis, our doctor will be able to issue a free private prescription as usual.

This new diagnostic procedure takes a little more time than our previous method of consultation but the good news is it is only required once and it will provide you with a very accurate diagnosis.

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Once your online diagnosis is complete you will be able to purchase your acne treatment as usual. Three months from the date of your diagnosis our doctor will send you a medical review form to monitor your progress on the treatment and renew your free private prescription if necessary

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Migraine is a severe condition that causes headache episodes known as attacks. This condition is relatively common in the UK affecting around 15% (1 in 4 women and 1 in 12 men) of adults.  Usually, migraine headaches can produce an intense throbbing pain usually at the front or on the side of the head. In some cases, people may also suffer secondary symptoms such as sensitivity to light and nausea. These symptoms can have a big impact on your quality of life and disrupt your normal daily routine. 

Migraine Treatments:

NationWide Pharmacies provide a range of treatments that can help fight the symptoms of migraine attacks including Imigran tablets and nasal sprays, Maxalt wafers/Zolmitriptan/Sumatriptan & Rizatriptan tablets, aswOur free consultation service is discreet and confidential and can be done from the comfort of your own home. All consultations are reviewed by our GMC registered doctor and treatments are delivered direct to your door. Take the first step by using our free online consultation service today.

Imigran Tablets
Imigran tablets provide relief from the symptoms of migraine headache.Imigran tablets provide relief from the symptoms of migraine headache. Unlike painkillers Imigran's active ingredient, sumatriptan, works by treating the root cause of migraine by decreasing the widening of blood vessels in the brain which is believed to help reduce the headache and relieve other symptoms of a migraine attack. Available Strengths: 50mg / 100mg Start Treatment:  Imigran should be taken once you feel a migraine attack starting.
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Imigran Nasal Spray
Each Imigran nasal spray contains a single dose of sumatriptan, which belongs to a group of medicines called triptans (also known as 5-HT1 receptor agonists). Imigran nasal spray is used to treat migraine headache. Migraine symptoms may be caused by the temporary widening of blood vessels in the head. Imigran nasal spray is believed to reduce the widening of these blood vessels. This in turn helps to take away the headache and relieve other symptoms of a migraine attack, such as feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) and sensitivity to light and sound. Available Strengths: 10mg / 20mg Start Treatment:  Imigran should be taken once you feel a migraine attack starting.
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Maxalt Melt Wafers
Maxalt Melt 10mg wafers can be used in situations in which liquids are not available, or to avoid the nausea and vomiting that may accompany the ingestion of tablets with liquids. Maxalt contains the active ingredient Rizatriptan which gives relief from migraine headache by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the brain which is thought to be a key cause of migraine. Available Strengths: 10mg Start Treatment:  Maxlt Melt Wafers should be taken once you feel a migraine attack starting.
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Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan belongs to a group of medicines called triptanes, which are used to treat migraine headache. Migraine symptoms may be caused by the temporary widening of blood vessels in the head. Sumatriptan is believed to reduce the widening of these blood vessels. This in turn helps to take away the headache and relieve other symptoms of a migraine attack, such as feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) and sensitivity to light and sound. Available Strengths: 50mg / 100mg Start Treatment:  Maxlt Melt Wafers should be taken once you feel a migraine attack starting.
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Zolmatriptan Tablets
Zolmatriptan tablets provide relief from the symptoms of migraine headache.    Available Strengths: 2.5mg / 5mg Start Treatment:  Zolmatriptan should be taken once you feel a migraine attack starting.
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Migraine causes:

The causes behind migraines is still not fully understood, however it is thought to be caused by fluctuations in the level of serotonin produced by the brain. Low levels of serotonin can cause blood vessels to contract and dilate producing an intense headache. It is also believed that fluctuating amounts of certain hormones may also be linked to the cause of migraine as many women suffer an attack of migraine around the time of their period. There are many other factors that have been identified as triggers (see 'triggers') belowthat include emotional, physical, environmental as well as medical factors.

Who is affected by migraines?

Migraines are relatively common affecting around 15% (one in four women and one in 12 men) of adults in the UK. It is believed that hormone fluctuations may be a key trigger for migraine which is reflected in the fact that women account for a higher proportion of migraine sufferers, with many women finding that migraines coincide with their period. Migraines usually begin in young adults with 9 out of 10 have their first migraine before they are 40 years old. However, it is possible for migraines to begin later in life.

What are the different types of migraine?

Different people may have different experience with migraines however here are two main types of migraine attack: migraine attack without aura, or common migraine, and migraine attack with or aura or classic migraine. Migraines usually have 4-5 stages depending on which form of migraine you suffer from.

The 5 stages of a migraine attack:

1. Prodromal. This is the pre-headache stage where some people experience changes in mood, energy levels, behaviour and appetite, and sometimes aches and pains several hours or even days before an attack.

2. Aura. People suffering from classic migraine (about 1 in 4) experience a sensation, or aura, just before their migraine starts. Symptoms of aura include flashes of light or blind spots, difficulty focusing, and seeing things as if you are looking through a broken mirror. This stage normally lasts around 15 minutes to an hour.

3. Headache stage. This is usually a pulsating or throbbing pain on one side of the head. You usually have nausea or vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds, with a strong desire to lie down in a darkened room. This stage lasts for four to 72 hours.

4. Resolution stage. Most attacks gradually fade away. Some people find the headache stops suddenly after they have been sick. Sleep often relieves the symptoms.

5. Postdromal. This stage is the recovery stage and is typified by exhaustion and weakness following a migraine attack.

What can trigger a migraine?

It is sometimes difficult to identify what triggers a migraine attack in some individuals and it may be that there is no one specific trigger for an attack. However there are several emotional, physical, dietary, environmental and even medical triggers that can cause an attack of migraine.

• Emotional triggers: Stress, anxiety, tension, shock, depression, excitement

• Physical triggers: Tiredness, poor quality of sleep, shift work, poor posture, neck or shoulder tension, travelling for a long period of time, low blood sugar, menopause

• Dietary triggers: Lack of food (dieting), delayed or irregular meals (see below), , dehydration, alcohol, the food additive tyramine, caffeine products, such as tea and coffee, specific foods such as chocolate, citrus fruit and cheese.

• Environmental triggers: Bright lights, flickering screens, such as a television or computer screen, smoking (or smoky rooms), loud noises, changes in climate, such as changes in humidity or very cold temperatures, strong smells, a stuffy atmosphere.

• Medicines: Some types of sleeping tablets, the contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 
  

   

What migraine treatments are available?

There is no cure for migraine however there are treatments available to help ease the symptoms of migraine.

• Painkillers, available over the counter, such as asprin or paracetamol can be used to ease your symptoms, however codeine based painkillers can make a migraine worse as it can add to the nausea symptoms associated with it. It is also important remember that taking any painkiller too frequently can also have an adverse affect and cause a 'medication overuse headache'.

• Sumatriptan (Triptan medicine) is often the next step for people that find that ordinary painkillers are not helping to relieve their migraine symptoms. Triptan medicines work differently to painkillers. They cause the disalated blood vessels around the brain to contract. This reverses the dilating (widening) of blood vessels that is believed to be part of the migraine process.