Migraine
3 medicines
Migraine is a neurological condition causing recurring moderate-to-severe headaches, often with nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances.
Zolmitriptan Nasal Spray
Zolmitriptan
5mg
Zolmitriptan Nasal Spray is a neurology medication containing Zolmitriptan, available as 5mg bottles.
Key facts
- Migraine is a neurological condition causing recurring attacks of moderate to severe, often one-sided headache, usually lasting 4 to 72 hours.
- Attacks typically come with nausea, vomiting, or heightened sensitivity to light and sound; about a third of people with migraine also experience aura, brief visual disturbances such as flickering lights or blind spots.
- Triptans are the first-line treatment for an attack in progress: options include sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan, taken as early as possible for the best result.
- Seek urgent care for a sudden, thunderclap headache unlike any before, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or new weakness or speech difficulty.
How attacks unfold
Many people notice a prodrome, fatigue, mood shifts, or food cravings, hours before the pain starts. About a third of people with migraine experience aura: brief visual disturbances such as flickering lights or blind spots that typically last 20 to 30 minutes. The headache phase that follows can be severe enough to stop daily activity entirely.
Treating an attack
Triptans are the first-line medicines for moderate-to-severe attacks. They work by narrowing dilated cranial blood vessels and blocking pain signals. Options available in the neurology range include sumatriptan, the longest-established triptan; rizatriptan, which dissolves quickly and suits people who struggle to swallow tablets during an attack; and zolmitriptan, also available as a nasal spray. Taking any triptan as early as possible in an attack generally gives the best result.
Reducing how often attacks occur
Identifying triggers is valuable: common ones include disrupted sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, and stress. Staying well-hydrated and keeping a regular sleep schedule can reduce attack frequency. A simple headache diary, recording timing, duration, and suspected triggers, helps identify personal patterns and guides further management.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent medical attention for a sudden, thunderclap headache unlike any before, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or new neurological symptoms such as weakness or speech difficulty.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.