Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Migraine Headache Treatment
1. Treat Symptoms
Have the person rest in a cool, dark room.
Apply a cool compress or ice pack to the painful area.
Massage the scalp.
Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain.
2. When to Seek Medical Help
See a health care provider if the headache persists or recurs.
See a health care provider immediately or go to a hospital emergency room for a headache with stiff neck, vomiting, or numbness or weakness in limbs or if the person has trouble speaking.
3. Follow Up
If you seek medical help:
The health care provider will do an exam and may recommend treatment or lifestyle changes to prevent migraines.
WebMD Medical Reference
SOURCES:
American Headache Society: "Preventive Treatments."
American Headache Society: "Commonly Used Acute Migraine Treatments."
American Headache Society: "Migraine's House of Headaches…And Visiting the Neighbors."
FamilyDoctor.org: "Migraine Headaches: How to Deal With the Pain."