“I used to inject myself with pain medicine every time I had a cluster, sometimes multiple times a day.  I can’t believe that preventing them in the first place is so easy with the right treatment.  I wish my first doctor would have read this, it would saved me a lot of agony and expense.”

Geoff Pinta
Chicago, Illinois

“I think the most my doctor ever talked to me about my clusters was 5 minutes.  I got a prescription and got out the door.  It was nice to be able to read about my headaches in depth, and I learned a TON I never knew.  Just knowing what triggers to avoid has helped me tremendously.”

Steve Engelhard
La Jolla, California

“I suffered from severe headaches for years and never really knew what they were, I only knew the devastating effect they had on my life.  After reading The Cluster Cure I was finally able to understand my condition and even better, my treatment options.  Now I have a plan of attack for my clusters that helps me lead a relatively pain free life.  Thanks!”

Jeanine Ashford
Syracuse, New York

"I wish I would have found the Cluster Headache Cure sooner, I would have approached treating my headaches a lot differently to minimize them or potentially eliminate them altogether.  I can highly recommend it to anyone suffering from cluster headaches, or frequent headaches in any form.”

Naithan Weigh
Harderwijk, Netherlands


 

The Quickest Relief for Cluster Headaches I've Found...Triptans

It's pretty rare that I come across someone who'd been suffering from clusters that hasn't heard of Imitrex or triptans due to their speed in pain relief and effectiveness in treating our types of headaches.

Triptans are used to treat clusters once they occur, so you may hear them called "abortive" medicines (as opposed to "preventative" medicines).

Triptans stimulate serotonin, which is a chemical that is used to transport nerve signals to various parts of the brain. Triptans also can decrease inflammation and aid in reversing blood vessel dilation around the brain. Any one of these actions can help relieve a cluster headache.

Triptans have several drugs in it's class. The brand names for some of these drugs are ones you may recognize. Here is a partial list of brand name triptans:

  • Axert
  • Frova
  • Amerge
  • Maxalt
  • Imitrex
  • Zomig

Although originally used for used for migraines,studies have found that they are also very effective on cluster headaches. As with any medication, you have to make your doctor aware of any medical condition that you may have. Let you doctor know if you have had any of the following:

  • History of heart attack or stroke
  • Allergy to triptans
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Ischemic bowel disease
  • Certain types of migraines such as ones that cause paralysis on one side or ones that cause dizziness or ringing in the ears.

The great thing about triptans is they are available in a variety of dosage forms. You can get tiptans that can be sprayed up the nose, injected under the skin, or it can be dissolved in the mouth. You do have to be careful not to use triptans within 24 hours of taking ergot alkaloids because it can cause excessive narrowing of the blood vessels. You should also make sure that you doctor knows if you are taking any other medications that affect serotonin, including herbal medications such as St. John's Wort. 

There are sides effects that you need to be aware of if you start taking triptans. The major side effects are an increased risk for chest pain, stroke or abnormal heart rhythms. Triptans commonly cause a sensation of pressure or heaviness in the head. You need to be aware that triptans can cause headaches if the drug is overused or the dose is too high.

For many people., triptans are the KEY medicine to managing their clusters, talk to your doctor about whether they may be right for you.