Should you go to urgent care or the hospital ER?
Migraines can usually be managed with prescription medications that you’re able to take on your own.
Here are some tips to help you recognize a migraine emergency and decide what to do.
Verywell / James Bee
A migraine emergency usually feels different from a regular migraine, and your symptoms may feel unfamiliar and confusing.
Migraine emergencies include:
Overall, it is not a good idea to ignore unusual migraine symptoms.
ER vs.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Urgent Care
If you don’t know what to do about your symptoms, you have a few choices.
You might call your healthcare provider’s office to ask for advice.
Do not stress too much about making the “right” choicejust get medical attention as promptly as possible.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Similarities
There are similarities between urgent care and emergency room approaches to migraine.
Staff in either setting can begin to coordinate the arrangements for your admission.
An ambulance will take you to the emergency room, not to urgent care.
Deciding where to go for medical attention can be tricky.
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Headache.
American Migraine Foundation.Thunderclap headaches.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications.
Lee MJ, Lee C, Chung CS.The migraine-stroke connection.J Stroke.
