Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by
Dr Amanda Northridge
GP & Medical Reviewer·MBBS·GMC 2847829
Throbbing pain, light sensitivity or nausea that stops you in your tracks? Speak to a GP today about a migraine — a clear diagnosis, a treatment plan, and prescription where appropriate.
GP appointments from £125 — see full pricing
Enough for most people with a clear migraine pattern. Seen today — prescription sent to your pharmacy if needed.
For a full neurological exam — same-day appointments in Manchester.
A qualified GP reviews your headache pattern, triggers and medical history. Video or in-clinic.
Your GP rules out more serious causes of headache and tells you whether it's migraine, tension headache or something else.
Prescription acute or preventative medication where appropriate, plus lifestyle and trigger advice. If specialist input is needed, your GP can arrange a neurology referral.
Migraines are intense, often one-sided headaches linked to changes in brain chemicals, nerves and blood vessels. They're more than a bad headache — attacks can last hours or days and often come with nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and visual disturbances. Triggers vary person to person. Common ones include:
A sudden, severe headache — or one with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, stiff neck, high fever or rash — can be a sign of a stroke, bleed or meningitis. Call 999 or go to A&E straight away.
Migraine shares symptoms with tension headaches, cluster headaches, sinus pain and more serious causes. A GP can work through the pattern quickly and tell you which it is — and what to do next.
A tension headache is usually mild-to-moderate, feels like tight pressure on both sides, and doesn't stop you getting on with your day. A migraine is more intense, often one-sided, throbbing, and comes with nausea, light or sound sensitivity, or visual disturbance. Migraines usually stop you working or sleeping.
Call 999 for a sudden, severe headache that peaks within minutes, any headache with weakness, numbness or slurred speech, a headache with fever and stiff neck, or one after a head injury. See a GP the same day for a headache that feels different to your usual, a new headache after age 50, or any headache getting rapidly worse.
Two kinds: acute (to stop an attack — including migraine-specific medication called triptans) and preventative (to reduce how often attacks happen). A GP can prescribe either and explain when to take what, based on how often you get attacks and how severe they are.
Common drivers are stress, poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, hormones (periods and perimenopause are big ones), certain foods, and bright light or strong smells. A headache diary for 2–4 weeks can help spot patterns. A GP can help you work through triggers during your appointment.
Yes — if your migraine pattern needs specialist input (frequent attacks, unusual features, or preventatives haven't worked), we can arrange a private neurology referral the same day.
Video or in-clinic, 15 minutes. Your GP takes a focused history, examines you, and explains what they think is going on.
Blood tests, swabs, urine samples or imaging — your GP arranges what fits and shares the timeline at the appointment.
Prescriptions sent electronically to your pharmacy after the call. Sick notes issued at the visit. Specialist referral letters written the same day when needed.