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Treatments for Cluster Migraines

Cluster headaches (also called cluster migraines) are considered to be one of the most excruciating forms of pain a human can suffer. In an interview for PsychCentral.com, Professor Peter Goadsby, MD, explains women who have given birth and then had cluster migraines thought that giving birth was less painful. Unfortunately, cluster headaches are difficult to treat.

  1. Diagnosis

    • One of the reasons cluster headaches are so difficult to treat is because they can be difficult to diagnose. There isn't a clear-cut test to determine if a patient has cluster headaches. Cluster headaches can be misdiagnosed as migraines, brain tumors, heroin withdrawal, sinus problems or inner-ear infections.

    Drugs

    • The most common form of pain management for when a cluster migraine begins is to take prescription painkillers such as anti-seizure medications such as Topamax (topimirate). Other medications the Mayo Clinic says works best when injected are triptan painkillers such as Sumatriptan; local anesthetics such as Lidocaine and Dihydroergotamine, the latter of which also comes in a nasal spray.

    Preventative Drugs

    • These blood pressure drugs are taken every day in the hopes the cluster migraine attacks will lessen or not be so severe. The theory is many people with classic migraines have been helped by these preventatives, so perhaps people with cluster migraines would, too. These drugs include beta blockers such as propranolol and calcium channel blockers such as verapamil. According to PsychCentral.com, verapamil can also be injected when an attack begins, but the results are mixed.

    Potential

    • The latest treatment for managing the pain of cluster migraines is oxygen therapy. This can be breathing oxygen in a chamber or breathing canisters of oxygen at home. Relief from the pain tends to come after about 40 minutes of breathing the oxygen. Because cluster migraine attacks begin about an hour after falling asleep, some doctors theorize if patients should wear oxygen masks to bed.

    Long-Term Treatment

    • Doctors also recommend lifestyle changes as long-term treatment for anyone with cluster migraines. This includes quitting smoking, cutting back on alcoholic beverages, refraining from using illegal drugs, getting regular sleep and learning stress-management techniques.

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