When is a headache a migraine? How can you tell? The WebMD Migraine/Headache Guide will help you take the first steps toward finding relief for you or your child.

What Is a Migraine?

Your Guide to Chronic Headaches

Get basic information for managing various types of chronic headaches.

Related Guide: Your Guide to Migraines

Migraines can cause severe pain. Learn more about their triggers and how to treat them.

Headaches in Children

Children’s headaches occur for the same reasons adults get headaches. See how they are evaluated and diagnosed in children and adolescents.

FAQ: Headaches and Migraine: Cause and Treatments

Get answers to frequent concerns about headaches and migraines. Read about the role of caffeine and pain relievers as causes of headaches.

A woman’s headache could be from stress or hormones. Here’s why -- and how to get relief.

Why Frequent Headaches Hurt

Learn the science behind the cause of pain and when to see a doctor.

Causes

Hormones and Headaches

More women suffer from migraines. Menstrual migraines or hormone headaches -- female hormones are to blame.

Find out what triggers migraine headaches. Then take control by learning the causes.

Sleep Deficiency and Migraines

Improved sleeping habits can reduce migraine headaches. See how.

Children With Headaches: Weight Connection

Overweight children and teens are more likely than thinner youngsters to have more frequent and severe headaches.

Medication Headaches

Many drugs can induce headaches; find out if your medication is on this list.

Are You at Risk?

Do You Get Stress Headaches?

Stress can lead to health risks. Learn about the stress-headache link, what it means to you, and how to manage stress.

Exercise and Sex Headaches: Getting Physical Can Mean Frequent Headaches

Exercise and sex may seem like strange bedfellows, but both trigger headaches.

Foods That Trigger Migraines

Is dinner causing dismal migraines? Learn what to avoid and get tips on controlling migraine food triggers.

Smoking Can Trigger Headaches

If you’re sensitive, smoking and secondhand smoke can ignite frequent and sometime severe headaches.

Caffeine Headaches: Friend or Foe?

Caffeine can serve as a treatment for headaches or cause caffeine headaches from withdrawal. See how.

Prevention

Prevent Migraine Headaches

Don’t just put up with them. Learn how to prevent migraine headaches and treat them.

Real Migraines, Real People

Learn How TOPAMAX Can Help from Patients Who Have Been There

Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information

TOPAMAX is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.

Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.

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