How long do migraines last

We define this as a migraine that lasts more than 72 hours without a pain-free interval. Status migrainosus is often treated differently than shorter migraine attacks and may require you to receive different treatments. Chronic migraine is currently defined as having 15 or more headache days per month for three months, and at least 8 of those headache days include migraine symptoms or are treated like migraine. Episodic migraine is defined as 14 or fewer headache days per month.

A primary care physician or headache specialist can provide a diagnosis and help you manage your migraine. If you think you may have episodic or chronic migraine, keep track of all of your headache days—both migraine and other types of headache—and speak to your doctor.

Timing can play a role in diagnosis of other headache disorders, such as new daily persistent headache NDPH and hemicrania continua. Both disorders involve constant head pain that continues for over three months without relief. NDPH commonly has a distinct, sudden onset, while hemicrania continua is marked by pain only on one side of the head.

Factors like time, as well as location of pain and your specific symptoms, can help with getting a correct diagnosis and working on a treatment plan tailored to your lifestyle and headache. The American Migraine Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those living with this debilitating disease. For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool.

Together, we are as relentless as migraine. Skip to content. What is a migraine attack? How long is a migraine attack? How to reduce the effects and treat a migraine attack Identifying your individual symptoms of a migraine attack can help you treat them early and more effectively. How do I know if I have chronic migraine? Font Size. Related Articles Demystifying Migraine with Aura.

If you can release tension with these techniques, your migraine attack may not be as severe or last as long. Others find that putting a cold compress on their temples will help relieve their migraine symptoms and keep their migraine from lasting as long, Mauskop says.

The type of migraine you have as well as the frequency and severity of your attacks is something you should discuss with your doctor when developing a treatment plan. For people with mild to moderate symptoms, over-the-counter medications are often sufficient to relieve them, according to the American Migraine Foundation. These include:.

Your doctor may also prescribe any of a number of drugs for acute treatment of migraine. Generally speaking, acute migraine treatments work better the earlier in the attack you take them, before the pain has gotten severe. There are seven different triptan drugs, of which sumatriptan sold as Alsuma, Imitrex , Onzetra, Zembrace, and Treximet, which is a combination of sumatriptan and naproxen is probably the best known.

All of the triptans are available as pills, two as nasal sprays or powders, and one as a self-administered injection. Most triptans start relieving pain in 30 to 60 minutes, although two longer-acting triptans, Amerge naratriptan and Frova frovatriptan , take one to three hours and about two hours, respectively, to start working. Many people report being pain-free within two hours of taking a faster-acting triptan, according to MigraineAgain. If migraine pain recurs within 24 hours of taking a triptan, a second dose may be needed.

Because one of the effects of triptans is to narrow blood vessels in the brain, these medications should not be used by people with coronary artery disease , a history of stroke, peripheral vascular disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Both Nurtec and Ubrelvy begin reducing migraine pain within 60 minutes. Reyvow lasmiditan belongs to a new class of headache medication called selective 5-HT 1F receptor agonists, or ditans, for short. The drug binds to a particular type of serotonin receptor found on the trigeminal nerves, according to the American Headache Society. Reyvow is available as a tablet in three dose sizes. In research published on July 24, , in The Journal of Headache and Pain , about 30 percent of people who took Reyvow reported that their pain and their most bothersome migraine symptom had resolved two hours after treatment.

They usually begin in early adulthood. Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. Simple painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can be effective for migraine.

Try not to use the maximum dosage of painkillers on a regular or frequent basis as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time. You should also make an appointment to see a GP if you have frequent migraines on more than 5 days a month , even if they can be controlled with medicines, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.

You should call for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you're with experiences:. These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis , and should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible. The exact cause of migraines is unknown, although they're thought to be the result of temporary changes in the chemicals, nerves and blood vessels in the brain.

Around half of all people who experience migraines also have a close relative with the condition, suggesting that genes may play a role. Some people find migraine attacks are associated with certain triggers, which can include:. There's no cure for migraines, but a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.