Options for Cluster Headache Pain Relief Remedy

Do you experience severe pain behind one eye? Are medications become ineffective at providing you relief? Is the pain so intense that you could not concentrate in doing any work and you feel like bumping your head on the wall? If you answer yes to all of these, you may be suffering from cluster headaches.

Cluster headaches are rare headaches which are often characterized by severe headaches of piercing quality near one eye or temple that last for between fifteen minutes and three hours. As the name implies, cluster headaches occur in groups or clusters and are frequently associated with red, watery eyes, drooping eyelids, and nasal congestion on the affected side of the face.

If you are a cluster headache victim, you do not only suffer from the disabling effects of this condition, but also from the several impacts on emotions, finances, marriage, and other obligations at work or school. This clearly diminishes the quality of the victim’s life that is why one should find cluster headache pain relief remedy. Although there is no cure for cluster headaches, there are various treatments available to help decrease the severity of pain and shorten the headache period.

Induction and Maintenance Therapies

Induction and maintenance therapies begin together and are used in order to reduce the frequency and intensity of cluster headaches and improve the victim's quality of life. These two therapies are prophylactic treatments which are meant only to prevent cluster headaches from occurring and not to stop the pain. The main purpose of induction therapy is to break the headache cycle with drugs such as corticosteroids and dihydroergotamine. But these drugs are not meant for long-term therapy, these are just intended to jump-start the maintenance therapy.  The maintenance therapy, on the other hand, is for long-term effectives which includes drugs like lithium carbonate, ergotamine verapamil, and methysergide. But some of these drugs, like the methysergide, have dangerous side effects with prolonged use so these must be stopped for one month each year. Other drugs that are included to just prevent the cluster headache from occurring are the following:

• Blood pressure medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers
• Anticonvulsants
• Antidepressants
• Sansert
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naprosyn
• Periactin
• Calan, Verelan, Covera-HS
• Eskalith, Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs

Symptomatic Therapy

Even with induction and maintenance therapies, it does not mean that the cluster headache victim will stop experiencing this pain. The headaches will still occur that is why there is symptomatic therapy which is meant to stop or shorten the headache. This usually includes oxygen inhalation, sumatriptan injection, and application of local anesthetics inside the nose. Aside from these, there are other drugs that can be used like the following:

• Injection of Depo-Medrol
• Imitrex injection
• Dihydroergotoamine injection and ergotomine tartrate tablets
• Zomig, Zomig-ZMT, and Zomig nasal spray
• Axert
• Deltasone
• Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT

Other Remedies

Other remedies can include natural herbs and supplements like magnesium supplements. These are proven to show some benefits in about 40% of cluster headaches patients. Another is melatonin. Melatonin also has been shown to be relatively effective in reducing headache severity and frequency. Some cluster headaches are triggered by stress, so stress techniques like yoga and meditation may be effective too. Alternative or complementary therapies such as chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation, and acupuncture can also help cluster headache patients.

These treatments offer better options for cluster headache relief. It is up to you to choose which one you will consider. But it is always best to consult your physician for medical advice.