Getting help for recurring migraine in England

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Bring a headache diary

See the GP for recurrent severe headaches. Record headache days, duration, associated symptoms, menstrual timing, medicines and response. Count days using pain relief, not only packs purchased.

The NHS migraine guide ↗ recommends review for severe, worsening or poorly controlled attacks. Discuss a new headache pattern rather than automatically treating it as established migraine.

Recognise urgent symptoms

A sudden extremely severe headache, new one-sided weakness, speech difficulty, seizure or confusion needs 999. Do not independently attribute new neurological signs to a familiar aura.

NHS advice recommends urgent GP or 111 help for an attack beyond 72 hours, aura beyond an hour, pregnancy or recent childbirth. These situations should not await routine neurology review.

Obtain two plans

Discuss treatment of individual attacks and prevention when appropriate. Ask for written instructions on when to use prescribed medicine, vomiting or treatment failure, and review thresholds.

Mention pregnancy, conception plans, contraception, long-term conditions and all medicines. Do not copy another person's prescription. Frequent painkiller use can contribute to headaches; agree a safe strategy rather than escalating indefinitely.

When specialist assessment is appropriate

If treatment fails or symptoms change, the GP may refer. Ask what has already been tried, what is needed before referral and how to manage while waiting. Injections and specialist medicines have their own indications; clinic advertising alone should not determine selection.

For private care, bring the diary and treatment records and check monitoring and prescription costs. Agree when to assess progress. The objective is an effective individual plan rather than an automatic scan for everyone with headache.