


Migraine relief medications that combine caffeine, aspirin and acetaminophen (Excedrin Migraine) may be helpful, but usually only against mild migraine pain. When taken too frequently, these might cause medication-overuse headaches, and possibly ulcers and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. These over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers include aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). Depending on how severe your migraine pain is, types of medications that can be used to treat it include: Medications used to relieve migraine pain work best when taken at the first sign of an oncoming migraine - as soon as signs and symptoms of a migraine aura begin. Treatmentįor migraine with aura, just as with migraine alone, treatment is aimed at relieving migraine pain. Your doctor might refer you to a doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders (neurologist) to rule out brain conditions that could be causing your symptoms. This diagnostic imaging procedure produces images of your internal organs, including your brain. This X-ray technique produces detailed images of your brain. Head computerized tomography (CT) scan.A thorough eye exam, done by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist), can help rule out eye problems that might be causing visual symptoms. If your aura isn't followed by head pain, your doctor might recommend certain tests to rule out more-serious conditions, such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Your doctor might diagnose the migraine with aura based on your signs and symptoms, your medical and family history, and a physical exam. People who have migraine with aura are at a mildly increased risk of stroke. Migraines are also more common in women than in men. Risk factorsĪlthough no specific factors appear to increase the risk of migraine with aura, migraines in general seem to be more common in people with a family history of migraine. Many of the same factors that trigger migraine can also trigger migraine with aura, including stress, bright lights, some foods and medications, too much or too little sleep, and menstruation. The electrical and chemical waves can occur with normal functioning of the nerves and do not cause harm to the brain. The most common type of aura is visual aura, which occurs when a wave of electrical activity spreads through the visual cortex and causes visual symptoms. This electrical or chemical wave can occur in areas that process sensory signals, speech centers or centers that control movement. The part of the brain where the electrical or chemical wave spreads determines the type of symptoms you might experience.

There is evidence that the migraine aura is due to an electrical or chemical wave that moves across the brain. Your doctor will need to rule out more-serious conditions, such as a stroke. See your doctor immediately if you have new signs and symptoms of migraine with aura, such as temporary vision loss, speech or language difficulty, and muscle weakness on one side of your body. Numbness, typically felt as tingling in one hand or on one side of your face that may spread slowly along a limb.Other temporary disturbances sometimes associated with migraine aura include: Zigzag lines that gradually float across your field of vision.Blind spots (scotomas), which are sometimes outlined by simple geometric designs.Most people who have migraine with aura develop temporary visual signs and symptoms, which tend to start in the center of the field of vision and spread outward. Sometimes migraine aura occurs without headache, especially in people age 50 and older. Migraine aura usually occurs within an hour before head pain begins and generally lasts less than 60 minutes. Migraine aura symptoms include temporary visual or other disturbances that usually strike before other migraine symptoms - such as intense head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. You can try to prevent migraine with aura with the same medications and self-care measures used to prevent migraine. Treatments for migraine with aura and migraine without aura (also called common migraine) are usually the same. These disturbances can include flashes of light, blind spots, and other vision changes or tingling in your hand or face. Migraine with aura (also called classic migraine) is a recurring headache that strikes after or at the same time as sensory disturbances called aura.
