The result of the survey asking "Do you have an aura (visual disturbance) before or during your migraine attack?" was:

Yes : 65% (2510 votes)
No : 35% (1372 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do you take daily medication to prevent migraine?" was:

Yes : 40% (51 votes)
No : 60% (75 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Have you consulted a doctor about your migraine?" was:

Yes : 82% (1368 votes)
No : 18% (306 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Migraine sufferers are recommended to eat regularly, going no longer than 4 hours without food during the day or 12 hours overnight.

Has eating regularly helped you to control your migraine?" was:

Yes : 43% (270 votes)
No : 57% (362 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do any of your family or friends recognise any early warning signs from your appearance or behaviour to indicate that a migraine might be iminent?" was:

Yes : 50% (305 votes)
No : 50% (304 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Are your employers or working colleagues sympathetic or supportive when you have a migraine?" was:

Yes : 65% (211 votes)
No : 35% (116 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Does the application of heat to your head or neck help to relieve your migraine?" was:

Yes : 27% (155 votes)
No : 73% (411 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do you take a triptan (Imigran, Zomig, Naramig, Maxalt, Almogran, Migard) to treat your migraine attacks?" was:

Yes : 45% (200 votes)
No : 55% (247 votes)

The result of the survey asking "If you have consulted a headache specialist, did your GP follow his or her recommendations?" was:

Yes : 59% (109 votes)
No : 41% (77 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Have you tried any complementary therapies to treat your migraine?" was:

Yes : 33% (120 votes)
No : 67% (245 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do weather conditions trigger your migraine?" was:

Yes : 59% (167 votes)
No : 41% (116 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do you experience a migraine if your sleep pattern changes?" was:

Yes : 59% (241 votes)
No : 41% (166 votes)

The result of the survey asking "If you are sensitive to light, does wearing dark glasses help to avoid an attack?" was:

Yes : 41% (198 votes)
No : 59% (284 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Have you noticed that eating particular foods can trigger a migraine?" was:

Yes : 41% (189 votes)
No : 59% (276 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do you think your GP is well informed about migraine treatments and offers you the help you need?" was:

Yes : 39% (147 votes)
No : 61% (229 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Is your migraine worse at a specific time(s) of the year?" was:

Yes : 25% (293 votes)
No : 75% (895 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Are complementary therapies an effective treatment option in the prevention of migraine?" was:

Yes : 47% (265 votes)
No : 53% (304 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Is the workplace becoming more migraine friendly?" was:

Yes : 23% (148 votes)
No : 77% (491 votes)

The result of the survey asking "Do you receive appropriate help and support about migraine from your GP?" was:

Yes : 45% (493 votes)
No : 55% (613 votes)

A move in the right direction or a step too far?

The triptans are a group of drugs specifically designed for the acute treatment of migraine. Those currently available in the UK are Almogran, Imigran, Maxalt, Migard, Naramig, Relpax and Zomig. Many people say that triptans have transformed their lives so that they now feel in control of their migraine. The first of this group of drugs was introduced over 12 years ago and millions of doses have been taken by patients worldwide.

The current plans for the NHS aim to encourage patients to take responsibility for their own health and to devolve the management of non-life threatening and long term conditions from doctors to other members of the primary health care team such as nurses and pharmacists. This could result in some drugs being prescribed by nurses and pharmacists and possibly in more drugs becoming available for purchase from pharmacies without a prescription.

Over 1,500 migraine sufferers have told us how they feel about these issues by completing a questionnaire. Please click here to review the results collected.