A cluster headache is one-sided head pain that may involve tearing of the eyes, a droopy eyelid, and a stuffy nose. Attacks occur regularly for 1 week to 1 year and are separated by pain-free periods that last at least 1 month or longer. They seem to be related to the body's sudden release of histamine or serotonin. More men than women are affected. The headaches are more common in the 20s through middle age and tends to run in families.
Treatments for cluster headaches includes: Triptan medicines, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex); High dose steroids; Breathing in 100% oxygen.
Sumatriptan (Imitrex) is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists. It works by narrowing blood vessels in the head, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain, and blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea, and other symptoms of migraine. Only about 70% of cluster headache patients report significant treatment responses to triptans.1 This is thought to be due to a common polymorphism in the gene for the G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3 C825T) that modulates responder rates to triptans.1
Related to:
triptans, sumatriptan, imitrex, GNB3