- Sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache (reaching maximum intensity within seconds)
- Headache accompanied by high fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
- Focal neurological symptoms: facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, or sudden vision loss
- Headache following head trauma or in patients with a history of cancer or immunosuppression
Online Headache & Migraine Consultations with Australian GPs
Get professional medical assessment for primary headaches and diagnosed migraines from home. Consult an AHPRA-registered GP online for symptom evaluation, e-Prescriptions, medical certificates, and specialist referrals.
💊 Safe Telehealth Medication Prescribing
Our telehealth GPs can evaluate and prescribe appropriate evidence-based headache medications (e.g., triptans, anti-emetics, or regular preventative treatments). In alignment with Australian medical standards, Schedule 8 controlled substances, opioids, or strong addictive painkillers are not prescribed via online consultations.
Common Headache Conditions Assessed Online
Review how online GPs evaluate and manage non-emergency headache presentations.
| Headache Type | Common Characteristics | Telehealth GP Management |
|---|---|---|
| Migraine | Throbbing, typically one-sided pain, light/sound sensitivity, aura, or nausea. | Abortive therapy eScripts (e.g., triptans), preventative discussion, medical certificates. |
| Tension Headache | Dull, aching band-like pressure across the forehead or back of head/neck. | Lifestyle advice, non-opioid medication review, muscle tension management guidance. |
| Sinus Headache | Facial pressure/pain around eyes and cheekbones, often paired with nasal congestion. | Symptomatic relief guidance, nasal spray recommendations, or antibiotic evaluation if bacterial. |
| Recurrent / Complex Pain | Frequent disabling headaches requiring further investigation or secondary care. | Neurology or pain specialist referral letters, diagnostic pathology/imaging requests. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a medical certificate for time off work due to a severe migraine?
Yes. If a migraine or severe headache prevents you from working or fulfilling university duties, your GP can provide an official medical certificate following your video consultation.
What should I prepare before my headache consultation?
It is helpful to keep a brief headache diary noting: frequency of attacks, pain location and severity, known triggers (e.g., stress, lack of sleep, foods), and medications you have already tried.
Can an online GP refer me to a Neurologist?
Yes. If your headache symptoms require specialist investigation or chronic management plans, an Australian GP can issue an official referral letter to a Neurologist or specialized clinic.
What Type of Headache Do I Have?
Headaches are generally classified as either primary or secondary.
A primary headache is a condition in its own right. Common primary headaches include:
- Tension-type headache
- Migraine
- Cluster headache
- Medication-overuse headache
A secondary headache occurs because of another condition, such as an infection, head injury, medication or another medical problem.
The majority of headaches are primary headaches. A careful medical history is often very important in determining the likely type.
Your GP will ask about:
- When the headache started
- How quickly it developed
- Where the pain is located
- What the pain feels like
- How severe the pain is
- How long each headache lasts
- How frequently headaches occur
- Possible triggers
- Whether movement makes the headache worse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Visual symptoms
- Other neurological symptoms
- What medications you have taken
- Whether the pattern of your headaches has changed
This makes many headache consultations particularly suitable for telehealth.
When Should I See a GP About a Headache?
You should consider seeing a GP if your headaches:
- Keep coming back
- Are interfering with work, study or sleep
- Are becoming more frequent
- Are becoming more severe
- Last longer than usual
- Have changed in their usual pattern
- Require frequent pain medication
- Are affecting your quality of life
- Are associated with other symptoms that concern you
A NewTeleDoc Medical telehealth GP can assess your symptoms and determine whether you can be managed online or need an in-person examination or further investigation.
When Is a Headache an Emergency?
Some headaches can indicate a serious medical condition.
Do not delay urgent medical care to arrange a telehealth appointment if you have:
- A sudden, extremely severe headache that reaches maximum intensity within minutes
- A headache described as the worst headache of your life
- A headache accompanied by fever and a stiff neck
- A headache with a rash and significant illness
- Weakness or numbness
- Difficulty speaking
- New vision loss
- Severe confusion or difficulty maintaining balance
- A seizure
- A severe headache following a significant head injury
- A severe headache with repeated vomiting, drowsiness or memory problems after head injury
- A new or unusual headache during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth
- A new headache if you have cancer or significant immune suppression
- A new headache after a recent stroke
- Persistent visual disturbance
- A sudden severe headache triggered by strenuous exercise, sexual activity or straining
These symptoms require urgent assessment.
If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department.
Tension-Type Headache
A tension-type headache is one of the most common types of headache.
It may feel like pressure, tightness or a band around the head. The pain is often on both sides and is generally mild to moderate.
Unlike migraine, routine physical activity does not usually make a tension-type headache significantly worse.
Common contributing factors can include:
- Stress
- Poor sleep
- Neck or shoulder tension
- Long periods of screen use
- Dehydration
- Irregular meals
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Poor posture
Management may include appropriate pain relief, hydration, regular sleep, taking breaks from screens, stress management and addressing neck or muscular tension.
If tension-type headaches become frequent, your GP can discuss a longer-term management plan.
Migraine
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause recurrent, disabling headaches.
A migraine may involve:
- Moderate to severe headache
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- Pain that is often worse on one side
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound
- Worsening with normal physical activity
Migraine attacks can last for several hours and sometimes considerably longer.
Some people experience an aura before or during a migraine. Aura can include visual symptoms such as flashing lights, zig-zag patterns or areas of disturbed vision. Other neurological symptoms can also occur.
How Is Migraine Treated?
Treatment depends on the severity and frequency of attacks.
Acute treatment may include appropriate pain relief, medication for nausea and migraine-specific medicines such as triptans.
If migraines are frequent or significantly interfere with your life, your GP may discuss preventive treatment.
Preventive options can include medicines such as:
- Propranolol
- Amitriptyline
- Topiramate
- Candesartan
- Other migraine-prevention treatments where clinically appropriate
Your GP will consider your medical history, other medications, pregnancy status where relevant and individual risk factors before recommending treatment.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headache is less common than migraine or tension-type headache but can cause extremely severe pain.
The pain is usually:
- Very severe
- One-sided
- Around or behind one eye
- Relatively short in duration compared with many migraines
- Recurrent during periods known as cluster periods
During an attack, you may also experience:
- A red or watery eye
- A blocked or runny nose on the same side
- Drooping of the eyelid
- Facial sweating
- Restlessness or agitation
Because cluster headache can require specific treatment and specialist management, your GP may recommend a neurology referral when appropriate.
Medication-Overuse Headache
Taking headache medication too frequently can sometimes contribute to ongoing or increasingly frequent headaches.
This is known as medication-overuse headache, sometimes called rebound headache.
It can occur when certain acute headache medicines are used too frequently over time.
Medications that may contribute include some:
- Codeine-containing pain medicines
- Triptans
- Paracetamol
- Anti-inflammatory pain medicines
If you are regularly taking medication for headaches, speak with your GP rather than continuing to increase the amount or frequency.
Treatment may involve reducing or stopping the overused medication under medical guidance while also addressing the underlying headache disorder.
Your GP can help create an appropriate management plan.
Can a Telehealth GP Prescribe Headache Medication?
In appropriate circumstances, a telehealth GP may prescribe medication for headaches following a clinical assessment.
The GP will consider:
- Your symptoms
- The likely type of headache
- Your medical history
- Current medications
- Allergies
- Previous treatments
- Other medical conditions
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding where relevant
Not every headache requires prescription medication, and some medicines are not appropriate for everyone.
Your GP will explain the recommended treatment and whether you need follow-up.
Does a Headache Need a Brain Scan?
Not necessarily.
Many common primary headaches can be diagnosed clinically without imaging when the history and examination do not suggest a serious underlying cause.
However, your GP may recommend further investigation if there are concerning features, a significant change in your headache pattern or other symptoms suggesting a secondary cause.
Depending on your symptoms, this may involve:
- An in-person medical examination
- Blood tests
- Brain imaging
- Other investigations
- Referral to a neurologist
A telehealth GP can help determine whether further assessment is required.
Keeping a Headache Diary
If you experience recurrent headaches, keeping a headache diary can help identify patterns and triggers.
Record:
- Date and time the headache started
- How long it lasted
- Where the pain occurred
- Severity of the pain
- Associated symptoms
- Food and drink consumed
- Sleep quality
- Stress levels
- Menstrual cycle where relevant
- Medications taken
- Possible triggers
- What helped relieve the headache
This information can be useful during your telehealth consultation and can help your GP develop a longer-term treatment plan.
How NewTeleDoc Medical Can Help With Headaches
A NewTeleDoc Medical GP can assess many common headache presentations through telehealth.
During your consultation, your GP can:
- Assess your headache symptoms
- Identify the likely headache type
- Check for warning signs that require urgent care
- Discuss appropriate treatment
- Prescribe medication when clinically appropriate
- Discuss migraine prevention when appropriate
- Review frequent use of pain medication
- Arrange pathology or imaging when indicated
- Refer you to a neurologist when appropriate
- Provide a medical certificate when clinically appropriate
- Recommend an in-person assessment when required
If your symptoms cannot be safely managed through telehealth, your GP will advise you where to seek further care.
Book a Telehealth GP Appointment for Your Headache
If you are experiencing a recurrent, persistent or troublesome headache, you do not always need to travel to a medical centre to speak with a GP.
NewTeleDoc Medical provides convenient telehealth GP consultations from the comfort of your home.
A GP can assess your symptoms, identify possible warning signs and recommend the next appropriate step.
Book a NewTeleDoc Medical telehealth appointment today and speak with a GP from home.
Important Medical Information
This article provides general health information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
If you develop a sudden severe headache, neurological symptoms, a seizure, severe illness with fever and neck stiffness, or another emergency symptom, do not rely on telehealth. Seek urgent medical attention or call 000.