Health Care

Can I Go to an Urgent Care for Migraine Treatment?

April 16, 2025 |

AdventHealth

| Estimated read time: 5 minutes

According to the American Migraine Foundation, about 39 million Americans live with migraines — a type of chronic, severe, throbbing headache that can cause stomach upset and sensitivity to light and sound.

People who get migraines most often address them with their primary care doctor, but sometimes, they may need urgent treatment for their migraine symptoms.

This may lead you to wonder if you can go to an urgent care for migraine treatment — and the answer is yes. Every so often, a person may experience a sudden migraine attack that lasts longer than usual, is more painful than normal or is accompanied by other symptoms like nausea. We recommend visiting your local urgent care for migraine treatment in these cases.

Keep reading to learn more about migraines, when to seek medical care and how urgent care centers can treat migraines.

What Is a Migraine?

Although headaches and migraines are both types of head pain, they differ in pain intensity, location in the head, treatment options, duration, associated symptoms and triggers.

	Headache	Migraine
Pain Intensity	Throbbing pain	Severe throbbing pain
Head Location	Anywhere in the head	Normally on one side of the head
Duration	Normally less than 24 hours	Up to 72 hours
Treatment	Over-the-counter pain medication	Usually requires prescription medications
Associated Symptoms	Usually none	Nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, visual disturbances and fatigue
Potential Triggers	Stress, eye strain, poor posture, dehydration, caffeine, hormones, strong scents and loud sounds	Stress, anxiety, dehydration, hormones, low blood sugar, genetics, certain medications, lack of sleep, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, certain foods including caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and artificial sweeteners

Unlike headaches, people who have migraines may also experience a postdrome period for a few days after the migraine ends, which can cause tiredness, dizziness or a lack of concentration.

Postdrome Migraine Symptoms

Postdrome migraine symptoms occur after the main phase of a migraine attack has ended. This phase, often called the "migraine hangover," can last from a few hours to a couple of days.

Common postdrome symptoms include:

Body aches: soreness or stiffness, especially in the neck and shoulders
Difficulty concentrating: trouble focusing, often described as "brain fog"
Digestive issues: nausea, loss of appetite or stomach discomfort
Dizziness: a feeling of being lightheaded or off-balance
Fatigue: feeling drained, even after resting
Mood changes: feeling irritable, depressed or unusually euphoric
Sensitivity to light and sound: sensitivity that lingers even after the headache phase ends

The postdrome phase is part of the migraine cycle, and while it doesn’t involve the intense pain of the main migraine attack, it can still significantly impact your life.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Migraine

If you or a family member experiences migraines, your primary care physician should be helping you manage the condition with medications and lifestyle recommendations.

Sometimes, the effects of a severe migraine attack may differ from typical migraine symptoms and require additional medical attention at an urgent care or emergency department. Scenarios where you should seek immediate medical help include:

A migraine headache lasting longer than 24 hours without relief
A sudden "thunderclap" headache
Confusion
Difficulty speaking
Extreme nausea or vomiting that prevents taking medications and/or leads to dehydration
Numbness or weakness in parts of the body
Throbbing pain more severe than normal
Unusual vision changes

If you notice any of the above symptoms, head to an urgent care center or emergency room near you.

How Urgent Care Can Help With Migraines

If you visit an urgent care facility for migraine treatment, you may receive:

Anti-nausea medications
Diagnostic tests (bloodwork and imaging, if needed)
Neurological assessments
Pain relievers, including triptans like sumatriptan
Prescription migraine medications for acute migraine relief

Urgent care services are convenient for migraine care because they offer walk-in treatment for nonlife-threatening conditions, often with shorter wait times and lower costs.

When the Emergency Room May Be Necessary

While an urgent care clinic can treat migraines, certain symptoms may indicate a medical emergency rather than a standard migraine attack. Seek emergency care if your migraine is accompanied by:

A headache that reaches peak intensity within a minute (thunderclap headache)
A high fever and stiff neck (possible meningitis)
Difficulty speaking or signs of stroke
Seizures or loss of consciousness
Severe dehydration from vomiting
Sudden vision loss

If you experience these symptoms, immediately call 911 or go to the emergency department.

Can urgent care treat migraines?: Yes, urgent care facilities offer migraine treatment, including pain relief, anti-nausea medications and prescription medications. You may also get a shot for migraines at urgent care.
What will urgent care do for migraine treatment?: Urgent care doctors can provide pain relievers, triptans, anti-nausea medications and neurological assessments.
When should I go to an urgent care or ER for migraine treatment?: Go to the emergency department if your migraine is accompanied by vision loss, a high fever, seizures, severe dehydration, stroke-like symptoms or an intense "thunderclap" headache. Otherwise, your local walk-in clinic should be able to provide treatment and relief for your migraine symptoms.
What are the best over-the-counter medications for migraines?: Common options include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen and aspirin. If these do not help, a doctor may prescribe stronger migraine medications.
Can an urgent care doctor prescribe migraine medications?: Yes, urgent care doctors can prescribe acute migraine treatments like sumatriptan, anti-nausea medications and pain relievers.
Should I tell my primary care provider about my migraines?: Absolutely. If you regularly get migraines, don’t rely solely on medication or fast relief from your urgent care clinic. Migraines can indicate a more serious medical condition. Check with your primary health care provider to determine whether you need a neurologist or headache specialist. They may also be able to offer tips to help you alleviate your headaches at home.
How long should a migraine last before seeking medical care?: Seek medical attention if a migraine lasts more than 24 hours without improvement or if symptoms become severe.
What is the difference between sinus headaches, tension headaches and migraines?: Sinus headaches are caused by sinus infections and pressure, while tension headaches are mild to moderate and are caused by stress. Migraines are severe headaches often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and neurological symptoms.
Get Urgent Care for Migraine Relief at AdventHealth Centra Care: If you are one of the millions of Americans with severe migraine episodes, our urgent care experts at AdventHealth Centra Care are here to help. If you’re experiencing migraine pain, visit an AdventHealth Centra Care near you for relief.