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What is migraine?
What is migraine?
Migraine is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent attacks of head pain often with nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and other symptoms.
At the Ottawa Headache Centre, we recognize that migraine is a chronic condition that requires a personalized, treatment strategy that ultimately prevents disability and restores normal functioning.
The Ottawa Headache Centre approach to migraine
The Ottawa Headache Centre approach to migraine
Effective migraine management involves four principles:
Confirming your diagnosis and understanding your migraine burden
Understanding your triggers, and excluding secondary causes of headache
Treating attacks when they happen (acute treatment) effectively and fully. Acute treatments should ideally work fast and not leave you with undesired side-effects.
Reducing the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraine attacks over time with effective and tolerable preventive treatment.
Explore migraine topics
Explore migraine topics
What is migraine? Do I need an imaging test to know if I have migraine? Explore answers to common questions.
Learn about the sensory and visual disturbances that can precede or accompany a migraine attack.
What is the difference between episodic and chronic migraine? Learn more about chronic migraine and how we manage it at the Ottawa Headache Centre.
Migraine attacks with recurrent symptoms of dizziness, imbalance, and vestibular dysfunction.
Information on medications and strategies used to stop a migraine attack in progress, including triptans, gepants, and non-medicinal approaches.
For patients with frequent or debilitating attacks, preventive treatments aim to reduce the "brain’s irritability." This includes oral medications and lifestyle modifications.
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) is an FDA and Health Canada-approved treatment specifically for chronic migraine. Learn if you are a candidate.
Discover the latest class of medications designed specifically to block the CGRP pathway, a key player in migraine pain.
Is your migraine well-controlled?
Is your migraine well-controlled?
If you are using acute "rescue" medications more than twice a week, or if migraine is causing you to miss work, school, or social activities, your current treatment plan may need adjustment and you may benefit from migraine preventive treatment.
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