Headaches

advice about headaches treatments to help relieve headaches

Find your local pharmacy

Speak to a GP if: treatments recommended by your pharmacist do not relieve your headache your headache is getting worse despite taking painkillers painful or frequent headaches affect your daily activities or cause you to miss work

Phone 111 if: your headache does not go away and gets worse over time your headache is triggered suddenly by coughing, laughing, sneezing, changing posture, or physical effort You have a headache and: a sore scalp jaw pain while chewing you feel weak

Phone 999 if: your headache occurs suddenly and is very severe – it may feel like a blinding pain your headache occurs after a severe head injury You have an extremely painful headache and: slurred speech or memory loss a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have a stiff neck or a rash drowsiness or confusion vision problems severe pain and redness in one of your eyes

Symptoms

nausea vomiting increased sensitivity to light or sound

Migraines can stop you carrying out your normal daily activities. They usually last at least a couple of hours. Some people find they need to stay in bed for days at a time.

How to treat migraines

Most people can treat their migraines with over-the-counter medication from the pharmacist.

If your migraines are severe, you may need to be prescribed stronger medication by your GP. This may be able to relieve and prevent your migraines.

Read further information about migraines