A 32-year-old female presents with recurrent episodes of moderate to severe throbbing headache, usually on one side of her head. The headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. They can last from hours to a few days. What is the likely diagnosis and recommended treatment?
This patient's symptoms are consistent with migraines, which are often unilateral, pulsating headaches of moderate to severe intensity, typically lasting 4 to 72 hours, and associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. Initial treatment may involve a combination of lifestyle changes, acute symptom control with drugs like triptans or NSAIDs, and potentially prophylactic medication such as beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or antiepileptics if the migraines are frequent or particularly disabling.