Cluster headache
- Acute: high-flow oxygen or SC sumatriptan
- Intranasal triptan if injection unsuitable
- Verapamil is standard preventive therapy
- Steroid/occipital block can bridge prevention
- Galcanezumab can prevent episodic cluster
- Avoid oral triptans—they are too slow
- Check ECG when titrating high-dose verapamil
Use at a glance
- Acute: high-flow oxygen or SC sumatriptan
Treatment options
- Verapamil is standard preventive therapy
- Steroid/occipital block can bridge prevention
- Galcanezumab can prevent episodic cluster
Choosing treatment
- Intranasal triptan if injection unsuitable
Safety / pitfalls
- Avoid oral triptans—they are too slow
- Check ECG when titrating high-dose verapamil
Self-check
- What acutely treats cluster headache?
High-flow oxygen or SC sumatriptan. - What is checked while titrating high-dose verapamil?
ECG when titrating high-dose verapamil.
Drugs used for this (4)
All clinical uses · Open Cluster headache in the interactive console ↗