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← MARKETCARE·PROTOCOLS·HEADACHES & MIGRAINES
✦ PROTOCOL · NO 05

Headaches & migraines,
two ways.

Frequent, recurring, or with vision changes. The dull band, the throbbing half-head, the one that ruins three days a month. On the left, the neurology playbook of triptans, preventives, CGRPs, and Botox. On the right, the trigger-first metabolic protocol that magnesium researchers and sleep scientists prescribe.

Compare the tracks →See priced procedures
Head CT on monitorBrain MRI control roomBotox syringe for foreheadAmber pharmacy pill bottle
1 IN 6 ADULTS · MIGRAINE
2 TRACKS · 10 STEPS
UPDATED MAY 2026
TRACK · A · conventional

Conventional medicine

Classify the headache (migraine, tension, cluster, secondary). Rule out red flags. Treat acute attacks with triptans, prevent with daily meds, escalate to CGRP biologics or Botox if refractory.

TRACK · B · trigger-first

Trigger-first / metabolic

Treat migraine as a metabolic + sensory threshold problem: low magnesium, mitochondrial strain, dysregulated sleep, caffeine + sugar volatility, screen / light exposure. Lower the threshold, fewer attacks.

Week 0
Primary care visit

History, neuro exam, red-flag screen (thunderclap, fever, focal deficit, age >50 new onset, immunosuppressed, pregnancy).

$80–$220 · Family / internal medicine MD
Primary care visit prices →
Day 1
Trigger + symptom diary

Log every meal, drink, sleep window, screen hours, period day, weather, exercise, stress, and headache severity. Pattern surfaces in 2–4 weeks.

$0 · You · 28-day journal
Week 1–2
Imaging (if indicated)

CT for acute or trauma; MRI for chronic / atypical / progressive. Most uncomplicated migraine does NOT warrant imaging.

$240–$680 head CT · $480–$1,400 brain MRI · Radiology · outpatient imaging
Brain MRI prices →Head CT prices →
Week 1–4
Mineral + cofactor stack

Magnesium glycinate 400mg, riboflavin (B2) 400mg, CoQ10 100–200mg, vitamin D if low. All have AHS-graded evidence for migraine prevention.

$20–$60 / mo · Self-directed · evidence-graded supplements
Week 2–8
Abortive + preventive Rx

Acute: sumatriptan, rizatriptan, gepant (rimegepant, ubrogepant). Preventive (4+/mo): topiramate, propranolol, amitriptyline, candesartan.

$15–$95 sumatriptan · $25–$180 / mo preventives · PCP or neurologist · pharmacy
Generic triptan pharmacy prices →
Week 2–8
Sleep + caffeine reset

Fixed wake time ± 30 min. Morning sunlight 5–10 min. Cap caffeine at 200mg, before 12pm. Taper rebound headaches if NSAID-dependent.

$0 · Andrew Huberman / Matthew Walker protocols
Month 3+
Neurology consult

Refractory or chronic migraine (≥15 days / mo). Trial combinations, optimize dosing, address rebound from analgesic overuse.

$320–$640 first visit · Neurologist · headache specialist if available
Neurology consult prices →
Month 2+
Metabolic + sensory load

Lower-carb / Mediterranean. Stable blood glucose. Reduce screen + fluorescent exposure. Blue blockers after sunset. Hydration + electrolytes.

$0–$140 / session if coached · Dr. Josh Turknett · ketogenic-adjacent
Month 6+
CGRP · Botox · devices

CGRP monoclonals (erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab) or oral atogepant. Botox protocol for chronic migraine. Cefaly / Nerivio neuromodulation devices.

$640–$890 / mo CGRP · $1,400–$2,800 / cycle Botox · Neurology · infusion center
CGRP injection prices →Botox for migraine prices →
Ongoing
Maintenance practice

Magnesium + B2 daily. Fixed wake time. Walks. Strength 2x/wk. Stress regulation. Track triggers monthly. Keep acute Rx for breakthrough.

$0–$60 / mo supplements · You · daily · self-tracked
✦ PRICED IN AUSTIN

Every step has a price.
Here’s what we found.

We called clinics across Austin and pulled cash-pay quotes. Click any tile for the full provider list, phone numbers, and last-verified dates.

Primary care visit
Primary care visit
$80–$22038 providers
Head CT
Head CT
$240–$68017 providers
Brain MRI
Brain MRI
$480–$1,40016 providers
Neurology consult
Neurology consult
$320–$64014 providers
Sleep study (in-lab)
Sleep study (in-lab)
$680–$2,40012 providers
Botox for migraine
Botox for migraine
$1,400–$2,8009 providers
CGRP injection (per dose)
CGRP injection (per dose)
$640–$89011 providers
Triptan / gepant pharmacy
Triptan / gepant pharmacy
$15–$9528 providers
✦ THE TRIGGER-FIRST SOURCES

Who built
track B.

Consolidated from neurologists, sleep researchers, and functional MDs. Headache society itself grades B-evidence for riboflavin and magnesium.

Andrew Huberman
6.8M FOLLOWERS
Andrew Huberman
Huberman Lab

Morning sunlight + fixed wake time stabilizes circadian rhythm. Caffeine timing, blue light, magnesium.

Podcast · YouTubeVIEW →
Dr. Josh Turknett
180K FOLLOWERS
Dr. Josh Turknett
The Migraine Miracle

Migraine is a metabolic disorder. Low-carb, stable glucose, and sleep can resolve high-frequency migraine.

Books · podcastVIEW →
Matthew Walker, PhD
950K FOLLOWERS
Matthew Walker, PhD
Why We Sleep

Sleep is the single most powerful migraine prevention. Fixed schedule, no alcohol within 4 hrs of bed.

Books · podcastVIEW →
Dr. Mark Hyman
3.4M FOLLOWERS
Dr. Mark Hyman
@drmarkhyman

Magnesium deficiency, food sensitivities, and blood sugar swings drive most migraine. Treat the system.

Podcast · IG · booksVIEW →
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE · SOURCES
  • AHS Consensus · Acute + Preventive MigraineSpecialty body
  • NEJM · CGRP antagonistsRCT review
  • Cochrane · Triptans for acute migraineSystematic review
TRIGGER-FIRST / METABOLIC · SOURCES
  • AHS · Nutraceuticals for migrainePosition paper (B-grade riboflavin)
  • Andrew Huberman · Huberman LabStanford neuroscientist
  • Dr. Josh Turknett · The Migraine MiracleNeurologist · author
  • Matthew Walker · Why We SleepUC Berkeley sleep researcher
✦ READY TO START

Pick a track.
Get the price.

Find a neurologist in Austin→Find a brain MRI in Austin→Get the trigger-diary PDF→