The vision changes of the aura usually go away as the headache begins. The pain is usually more severe on one side of the head but can affect the whole head. Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and give you a physical exam. A careful history of your headaches is very helpful. Depending on your headache symptoms, your health care provider may recommend tests to check for other, more serious causes of your symptoms.
Prevention is an important part of treatment.
Relaxation exercises and biofeedback may help you manage stress. Your headache diary may suggest certain foods or activities you should avoid. You may need to take medication regularly to prevent the severe and frequent headaches. Drugs your health care provider might prescribe include propranolol, verapamil, antidepressants, and ergot preparations such as ergotamine, ergonovine, or methysergide. You may need to try a medicine for several weeks to see if it works.