Migraine treatment online
Migraines can take a whole day away from you. Work with a licensed provider online on treatment that stops attacks faster – and a plan to have fewer of them.
- Licensed providers
- Same-day visits, usually
- Video or phone
Get started Members: request a visit
Written by the CheckMD care team · Updated
Is it a migraine?
A migraine is more than a bad headache. Typical signs:
- Throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of the head, lasting hours to days
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- For some people, an aura first: flashing lights, zigzag lines or tingling
Triggers differ from person to person – lack of sleep, stress, skipped meals, alcohol, hormonal changes and certain foods are common ones.
What a virtual visit can do
Your provider takes a careful history: what your headaches are like, how often they come and what you have tried. Together you build a plan – medicine to take at the start of an attack, which may include prescription migraine medicine, and when to consider preventive treatment if migraines are frequent.
A headache diary helps a lot: note when attacks start, what you ate and how you slept. Members with a diagnosed migraine can also renew their usual medicine.
Medicines your provider may prescribe
- Triptans such as sumatriptan or rizatriptan, taken at the start of an attack
- Anti-inflammatory pain relief and medicine for nausea
- Preventive medicine such as propranolol, topiramate or amitriptyline if attacks are frequent
Only when it is right for you: your provider checks your symptoms, allergies, other medicines and health history first. Prescriptions go to the pharmacy you choose.
What you can do at home right now
- Rest in a dark, quiet room
- A cold pack on the forehead or neck
- Keep regular sleep and meal times
- Track attacks in a headache diary
Call 911 for
- The worst headache of your life, or one that starts suddenly like a thunderclap
- Headache with weakness, numbness, drooping of the face, confusion or trouble speaking
- Headache with fever and a stiff neck, or after a head injury
- A new kind of headache after age 50, or one that keeps getting worse
A virtual visit is not an emergency service. For chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time.
Get help in three steps
Request a visit
Tell us what is going on and choose video or phone.
Talk to a provider
Usually the same day, often within hours.
Start feeling better
Get your care plan and any prescription at your pharmacy.
Questions about migraine treatment
Can I get migraine medicine prescribed online?
Yes, when it is safe for you. Your provider checks your health history and other medicines first. Opioids are not used for migraine treatment.
Can migraines be prevented?
Often they can be made less frequent – with regular sleep and meals, managing triggers and, for some people, daily preventive medicine.
Can painkillers make headaches worse?
Yes. Taking pain relievers on more than 10 to 15 days a month can cause rebound headaches. Your provider can help you break the cycle.
How much does an online visit cost?
Visits are part of your CheckMD membership – one yearly price, and you don't need insurance. You pay the pharmacy for any medicine. See the current plans on our pricing page or read about telehealth without insurance.
Can I be seen today?
Most visits happen the same day. Request a visit, choose video or phone and pick the earliest time.
What if I don't get better?
Book a follow-up visit. Your provider can adjust your treatment or tell you where to be seen in person. If you get worse quickly, don't wait – get urgent care.
Feeling unwell? Talk to a provider today.
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