What is migraine?
Migraine is far more than a bad headache. It is a neurological condition in which attacks of moderate-to-severe head pain are typically accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual disturbances known as aura. Attacks can last from a few hours to three days, and for people with chronic migraine they occur on 15 or more days a month.
Migraine affects around one in seven people and is more common in women, often starting in the teens or twenties. Diagnosis is clinical: a specialist takes a detailed history of attack patterns and triggers, and examines you to rule out other causes. Brain scans are not usually needed, but may be arranged if the pattern of headaches is unusual or has changed.
Common symptoms
- Throbbing head pain, often on one side
- Nausea or vomiting during attacks
- Sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- Visual aura such as zigzag lines or blind spots
- Worsening pain with movement or exertion
- Fatigue or 'brain fog' before and after attacks
How long will you wait?
Routine NHS neurology referrals commonly take four to eight months in many areas, and specialist headache clinics can have longer waits still.
Privately, you can typically see a consultant neurologist within 3–7 days of enquiry.
NHS England median referral-to-treatment wait: 12.4 weeks, with 2.5 million people waiting over 18 weeks (May 2026). Individual waits vary by trust and urgency.
Treatment options
- Acute medication. Triptans, gepants and anti-sickness medicines taken at the start of an attack to stop it developing.
- Preventive medication. Daily tablets such as propranolol, candesartan or amitriptyline to reduce attack frequency.
- CGRP therapies. Newer injectable or tablet treatments (such as erenumab or rimegepant) that target the CGRP pathway for frequent migraine.
- Botulinum toxin injections. A specialist option for chronic migraine, given roughly every 12 weeks.
- Lifestyle and trigger management. Regular sleep, meals, hydration and stress management to reduce attack triggers.
What does private treatment cost?
As a guide, a private neurology consultation costs around £250–£350, with follow-up appointments from about £150–£250; self-funded CGRP preventive treatment can add £300–£500 per month if recommended.
Does health insurance cover migraine?
Most UK private medical insurance covers specialist consultations and investigations to diagnose the cause of new or worsening headaches. Ongoing management of established migraine is often treated as a chronic condition, so long-term preventive treatment and repeat prescriptions may not be covered. Check whether your policy covers newer drugs such as CGRP therapies, as approaches vary by insurer.
Frequently asked questions
When should I see a specialist about migraines?
See your GP first if attacks are frequent, disabling, or not settling with over-the-counter treatment. A specialist referral is worthwhile if you have more than four attacks a month, preventive medicines have not helped, your headaches are changing in character, or you are overusing painkillers, which can itself perpetuate headaches.
Will I need a brain scan?
Usually not. Migraine is diagnosed from your history and examination, and scans rarely add useful information when the pattern is typical. A specialist may arrange an MRI if your headaches are new in later life, rapidly worsening, always on the same side, or accompanied by unusual neurological symptoms, mainly to provide reassurance and exclude other causes.
Can migraine be cured?
There is no outright cure, but migraine is very treatable. Many people achieve a large reduction in attack frequency with the right preventive medication, and newer CGRP-targeted treatments have helped people who did not respond to older drugs. Attacks also tend to become less frequent with age, particularly after the menopause in women.
Related guides
- Chronic Headaches
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Trigeminal Neuralgia