• P J Goadsby.
• Department of Neurology, Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
• Eur. Neurol. 1994 Jan 1; 34 Suppl 2: 35-9.

AbstractCluster headache is a rare form of severe idiopathic headache characterized by unilateral short-lasting episodes of excruciating pain in association with autonomic disturbances. Subcutaneous sumatriptan has been investigated as an acute treatment for cluster headache in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trials. About 75% of patients given subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg reported headache relief within 15 min, in comparison with 26-35% given placebo (p < 0.001 in both studies). The need for rescue medication (100% oxygen by inhalation) at 15 min was significantly lower after sumatriptan treatment as were the severity of functional disability and incidence of non-headache symptoms. Results of a long-term study indicate that the tolerability and efficacy of sumatriptan 6 mg is maintained in long-term use, and that there is no evidence of tachyphylaxis.

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