What helps you when you know a migraine is starting?

[Autumnleaves83]

Has anyone found that you can stop a migraine from developing when you get the first signs? I’ve realised that my first sign is my vision going blurry and black spots, then gradually less vision. The headache, sickness, etc. usually come after this. Is there anything I can do as soon as I get the first signs to try to prevent it developing?

2 Ibuprofen and a pint of water taken as soon as I get the visual disturbances and if I'm lucky I will avoid it developing further

3x300mg aspirin, 2x Cocodamol, a glass of Coke (or a coffee), pint of water and a lie down. If it doesn’t ease off, take a sumatriptan and if that doesn’t shift it take another sumatriptan two hours later.

ETA: this is the migraine in my health authority. You can substitute the cocodamol for just paracetamol or ibuprofen if you prefer.

I take anadin extra which has aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine and lie down with my tens machine on.
After that it’s a tryptan and anti emetic cocktail…

I drink a pint of water with two paracetamol. Put on my sunglasses, turn all lights off (if at home). Sit down, close my eyes and wait (usually around half an hour) for the visual disturbances to settle down so I can see again.
When in a bright lights and drying environment (eg shopping mall or airport) I drink lots of water and may wear sunglasses indoors to try and prevent an attack. I do get an aura so know a couple of minutes before one starts.
I’m very light sensitive both to sunlight and artificial lights.

Coke (full sugar) and a Big Mac meal

I have to get it right at the start though - any delay and I’m already feeling too sick annoyingly

sumatriptan and domperidone. I used to try to “tough them out” but if I take two tablets at the first signs I can normally avoid a full attack. Prescribed by a neurologist and migraine specialist.

Paracetamol, cold Pepsi Max, fresh air and daylight. Phase 2 is fistfuls of Haribo!

When my vision starts to go if I can sit down or lie down quietly in a darkened room for a short while and try and relax i can usually stop it developing into a proper migraine.

I take my migraine medication.

but I also get a caffeinated, sugar filled soda, something very high calorie and preferably with some fat to eat (cheesecake is the perfect food for this, but a cookie, some cheese, whatever I can find quick and easy), and go lay down in a dark room. I stay off my phone and if I am bored I read my kindle on an extremely large font with a dim screen.

2 x cocodamol, plain potato (mashed or baked) with a bit of butter, dark quiet room.

Cocodamol
Pepsi max
Something salty

an aspirin and full sugar irnbru
if that doesn’t work pretty quickly ready salted crisps or salty nuts

mins are mainly caused by tension in my neck and shoulders so stretches to try and alleviate some of the tension can help

Coffee, preferably a can of iced coffee, ibuprofen, something really sweet like a spoonful of biscoff. I know I'm getting one as I muddle my words up, yawn a lot, have usually spend the day before weeing more than normal. As soon as I start to feel that sensation across my eyes its caffeine and medication. If I can have a sleep even better but if I do these things I can 9/10 stop the headache. Can't do anything about the sleepiness and foggy brain that goes with it but at least I can function.

Triptan, prescription meds.
Strangely, I found that breathing minty steam helps to prevent a full attack. Head over bowl of boiling water with a mint tea bag in , towel over head, for ten minutes. Just take care not to tip boiling water over!

My pre-signs are normally irritability, sensitivity to smell, clumsiness.

Are you on preventers? I've tried almost all of them with no result. However, I started taking atogepant 60mg last month and I've only had 3 migraines since, and the headache only got to a 1 or 2 out of 10. I was getting 15 migraines and about 13 headaches a month.

No mobile or tv / screens
eye drops
heavy eye mask / compress

Pepsi
Bovril
Anadin extra
Hot shower
Migraine cap

Same here. I believe it’s the big asprin dose that can help a lot.

Aspirin is what is recommended, but it often upsets my stomach. So I go with x3 ibuprofen and either coffee or full fat coke. If it doesn't start to ease quickly I'll them take a eletriptain (prescription only).

You can get sumatriptain over the counter now.

After many different preventative meditation and 2 years on botox I now take Atogepant which has reduced the intensity as well as severity of my migraines.

When I was in my teens and twenties, I used to get a distinct aura as a warning and if I took Migraleve at that point it would stop a full blown migraine.

Then, at some point, I stopped getting the aura and without that warning it was too late for any medication as the first signs were nausea and major headache.

Now, I am 65 and my migraines always start around 3 or 4 am & the first I know of it is waking up in a hot sweat, a banging headache & vomiting, so again, it is too late for any medication.

I was prescribed Candesartan recently as my GP said some people had found it reduced the severity and frequency of migraines but I was unable to tolerate the side effects, a really horrible daily headache and sickness, so I had to stop taking it.

I am sorry that I cannot offer any helpful advice 😳

‘Something salty’ - yes, you need electrolytes with your water.

Ibuprofen Lysine is literally the only thing that works for me. It’s like a miracle after years of misery.
ironically I bought it by accident the first time, I had no idea it was different to regular ibuprofen. Try it!

Sometimes I smell them coming and can head it off with pink migraleve and crisps.

As I’ve got older they have got worse but more tied to hormones so at least I know which week of the month to have good supplies of hula hoops.

Thank you so much everyone for sharing your experiences and tips.