Cluster headaches are headaches that accumulate over a period of time, appear “clustered” and then disappear again for a certain interval. A pain episode is about 15 minutes to about 3 hours long. It is the most severe unilateral headache in the area of the eye. They often occur at night and can be accompanied by symptoms such as increased lacrimation or a narrowing of the pupil. Comprehensive information about nerurology and other types of headache can be found on this page: Neurological diseases
Physiotherapy for cluster headaches
While muscular relaxation, postural corrections or light gymnastics promise promising relief for tension headaches, migraines or many other forms of headache, physiotherapy for cluster headaches is not helpful. Neither massages nor long-term postural changes have any effect on the headache. Also means of physical therapy, such as electrotherapy or heat treatment (fango, red light) prove to be inefficient. The therapy has no influence on the occurrence, frequency and duration of intervals or the severity of cluster headaches. Relaxation techniques, acupuncture or other non-drug therapies also seem ineffective.
Drugs
To counteract cluster headaches, conventional painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol should be avoided. These are ineffective for cluster headaches. Especially before the diagnosis of cluster headache, however, conventional pain medication is wrongly taken, since the end of a pain episode is attributed to the taking of the medication.
Nevertheless, drug therapy is still the main focus in the treatment of cluster headaches. To choose an effective medication, a distinction is first made between acute cluster headaches and chronic cluster headaches. In the acute phase, the following are used: Triptans are drugs that act like the messenger substance serotonin.
They influence the blood flow in the vessels of the brain. The drugs can be taken nasally, orally or subcutaneously and are also used to treat migraines. Side effects or contraindications should be clarified with the prescribing physician before taking!
Alternatively, the local anesthetic lidocaine is used, which inhibits the sensitivity of nerves. In the chronic phase the following drugs are more likely to be used: These are prescription drugs, and certain side effects, complications and contraindications should be clarified when taking them. Talk to your doctor before taking them!
- Medicines called triptans
- Inhalation of pure oxygen
- Verapamil – an actual high blood pressure medication
- Lithium – a drug that is also used in the treatment of mental disorders
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