Cluster Headache: Opportunities for Pharmacists to Improve Care

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002096429
Author(s):  
Richard Wenzel ◽  
Timothy R. Smith ◽  
Alexis S. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Dose Limit ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Associated Symptoms ◽  
Subcutaneous Sumatriptan ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Improve Patient

Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache (PH) disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of severe/extremely severe unilateral pain and associated symptoms. While less prevalent than other PHs such as migraine, CH impact is substantial given the agonizing pain, negative effect on daily productivity, impaired mental health, and increased costs. Cluster headache is not optimally treated and few clinical trials are available to model therapy, especially dosing and administration. Pharmacists are well positioned to help prescribers and CH individuals with several key opportunities. Subcutaneous sumatriptan (SC SM) lower than the FDA-approved 6 mg per attack, specifically 2 mg and 3 mg, can be considered; literature describes these doses’ benefits. Moreover, lower doses may improve patient access to this treatment-of-choice. Despite the SC SM’s FDA-approved dose limit of 12 mg per 24 hours, the maximum CH dose has not been examined; this limit merits reevaluation since literature and clinical experience illustrate treatment exceeding this limit. Oxygen therapy for CH remains unfamiliar to, and under-utilized by, clinicians and CH individuals. Pharmacists can facilitate prescribing, distribution, and administration of oxygen via education. Patient education for the various CH medication devices, including oxygen, is paramount. Narcotics remain widely prescribed for CH, without supporting evidence, but with considerable abuse and diversion risks. Pharmacists are positioned to help guard against narcotic usage and to direct care toward medications endorsed by CH guidelines. Since the optimal method to initiate and discontinue drugs which may decrease CH attacks’ remains unknown, pharmacists can educate clinicians and individuals with CH to make fully informed decisions.

Pharmacotherapy Options for the Management of Cluster Headache

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. CMT.S10251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared L. Pomeroy ◽  
Michael J. Marmura
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Unilateral Headache ◽  
Acute Medication ◽  
Subcutaneous Sumatriptan ◽  
Zolmitriptan Nasal Spray ◽  
Effective Medication

Cluster headache is a primary headache syndrome characterized by attacks of severe unilateral headache typically lasting 30 to 180 minutes without treatment and prominent autonomic symptoms on the affected side. Often attacks occur in cycles lasting weeks to months with up to 8 attacks per day, and a minority of individuals continue to experience attacks throughout the year. Persons with cluster headache usually require both acute medication for attacks and preventive treatment to keep the headaches from occurring. Subcutaneous sumatriptan is the most effective medication for acute cluster attacks, but other triptans such as zolmitriptan nasal spray are also effective. inhaling 100% oxygen is also effective and is a useful treatment for those with frequent attacks or contraindications to triptans. Corticosteroids are among the most effective transitional treatments, typically used at the start of a cycle. Dihydroergotamine is an effective treatment for refractory or severe cluster headache with multiple attacks requiring large triptan doses. Verapamil and lithium are among the most effective preventive medications with good evidence of effectiveness, but other studies support the use of gabapentin, topiramate, diavalproex sodium, and methysergide, to name a few. Each of these medications requires monitoring for adverse events and can be discontinued within a few weeks of a cluster headache cycle.

Cluster headache

2020 ◽  
pp. 182-189
Author(s):  
Ilse F. de Coo ◽  
Leopoldine A. Wilbrink ◽  
Joost Haan
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Headache Disorder ◽  
Primary Headache Disorder ◽  
Oxygen Inhalation ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Temporal Course ◽  
Subcutaneous Sumatriptan

Cluster headache is a primary headache disorder characterized by attacks of severe-to-very severe unilateral pain, located in the orbital, supraorbital, and/or temporal regions, with ipsilateral autonomic symptoms and/or restlessness. By definition, cluster headache attacks last between 15 and 180 minutes. Based on the temporal course, cluster headache can be categorized into episodic and chronic. A subdivision can also be made in primary and secondary chronic and secondary episodic. The cause of cluster headache is unknown, but probably the hypothalamus, trigeminal sensory system, some cranial blood vessels, and the autonomic nervous system are involved. A combination of acute (oxygen inhalation and/or subcutaneous sumatriptan) and prophylactic (first choice verapamil) treatment is usually necessary. For treatment-resistant patients, some experimental invasive options exist.

Genetics of cluster headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1298-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate F Gibson ◽  
Anita Dos Santos ◽  
Nunu Lund ◽  
Rigmor Jensen ◽  
Ioannis M Stylianou
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Candidate Gene ◽  
Gene Selection ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Headache Disorder ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Primary Headache Disorder

Background Cluster headache is the most severe primary headache disorder. A genetic basis has long been suggested by family and twin studies; however, little is understood about the genetic variants that contribute to cluster headache susceptibility. Methods We conducted a literature search of the MEDLINE database using the PubMed search engine to identify all human genetic studies for cluster headache. In this article we provide a review of those genetic studies, along with an overview of the pathophysiology of cluster headache and a brief review of migraine genetics, which have both been significant drivers of cluster headache candidate gene selection. Results The investigation of cluster headache genetic etiology has been dominated by candidate gene studies. Candidate selection has largely been driven by the pathophysiology, such as the striking rhythmic nature of the attacks, which spurred close examination of the circadian rhythm genes CLOCK and HCRTR2. More recently, unbiased genetic approaches such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have yielded new genetic avenues of interest including ADCYAP1R1 and MME. Conclusions The majority of candidate genes studied for cluster headache suffer from poor reproducibility. Broader genetic interrogation through larger unbiased GWAS, exome, and whole genome studies may provide more robust candidates, and in turn provide a clearer understanding of the causes of cluster headache.

Post-Traumatic Headache: From Classification Challenges to Biological Underpinnings

Cephalalgia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 12-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Lenaerts
Keyword(s):  
Patient Management ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Traumatic Head Injury ◽  
Management Quality ◽  
Clinical Consequences ◽  
Traumatic Head ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Improve Patient Management ◽  
Improve Patient

The ICHD-II criteria for post-traumatic headache (PTH) are strictly outlined. PTH can be subdivided into an acute and a chronic forms, the former likely nociceptive in nature, the latter likely neuropathic. The time of transition between the acute and the chronic forms is artificial and in the future should be better based on clear clinical or rather biological data. Chronic PTH often presents as one of the primary headache syndromes, e.g. migraine or tensiontype headache. Its biology is poorly understood and whether it merely represents the expression of the primary headache or it has a distinct pathogenesis remains unclear. The frontal lobe is often affected in traumatic head injury. Its dysfunction can cause an array of clinical consequences that have an impact on the patient's symptomatology and therapeutic outcome. Its recognition is likely to improve patient management quality.

Cluster Headache in Women: Clinical Findings and Relationship with Reproductive Life

Cephalalgia ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Camillo Manzoni ◽  
Giuseppe Micieli ◽  
Franco Granella ◽  
Emilia Martignoni ◽  
Stefano Farina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Age Range

Cluster headache (CH) occurs rarely among women; for this reason only a limited number of studies have been reported on the characteristics of the disease in the female population. In this study, 82 females (age range, 14–72 years) with episodic (69 cases) or chronic (13 cases) CH were investigated. The clinical features of headache and the physiologic events related to reproductive life were compared with those of various control groups. We did not find any remarkable differences in clinical features between men and women. Unlike other forms of primary headache, the course of CH does not seem to be modified by menstruation, pregnancy, or puerperium. Finally, our data seem to confirm a hypofertility trend, mostly after onset of CH, which had previously been noticed by other authors.

Headache

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Goadsby
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Severe Pain ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Headache Disorder ◽  
Headache Disorders ◽  
Important Work ◽  
Pain Experience ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Primary Headache Disorder ◽  
The World

Headache disorders are the dominant cause of neurological disability in the world and the most common reason for neurological referral in any country studied. Yet for much of the first half the twentieth century, research was mired in peripheral mechanistic sideshows. Migraine, the most common disabling primary headache disorder, has been established as primarily a brain problem, with important advances in classification, treatment, and biological understanding. Cluster headache, perhaps the most severe pain experience of humans, has found its nidus in the diencephalon; treatments are evolving and biology being unravelled. Contributions to headache disorders resonate across humanity, so important work here has a global impact for good.

Primary headache and migraine in headache specialists – does personal history of doctors matter?

Cephalalgia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Evers ◽  
Nicole Brockmann ◽  
Oliver Summ ◽  
Ingo W Husstedt ◽  
Achim Frese
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Treatment Recommendations ◽  
Personal History ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Primary Headache Disorders ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Age And Sex

Objective Migraine is a common disorder affecting more than 10% of the population. The prevalence of migraine among physicians and, in particular, among headache specialists is widely unknown as is the impact of suffering from migraine on the attitudes towards migraine and on treatment recommendations of physicians. We designed a survey among headache specialists and neurologists and compared the results to general pain specialists and general practitioners. Methods A standardized interview in randomly selected samples of these four groups of physicians was performed. The interview included data on the prevalence of migraine and other primary headache disorders in the physician groups, self-report on their own treatment, attitudes towards migraine, and treatment recommendations for migraine. The prevalence rates were also compared to an age- and sex-matched German general population sample. Results The lifetime prevalence of migraine was higher in headache specialists (53.0%) than in general neurologists (43.0%), pain specialists (21.7%), general practitioners (19.3%), and in the general age- and sex-matched population (16.8%). Cluster headache prevalence was high in neurologists (1.9%) and in headache specialists (1.3%); episodic tension-type headache prevalence was significantly lower in general practitioners (19.5%). One reason, among others, was that being a migraine (or cluster headache) patient more often prompted the sufferers to become a specialist in neurology. Physicians with migraine rated the biopsychosocial concept of lower importance for migraine than did physicians without migraine. The self-treatment of migraine in physicians differs from the treatment recommendations to the patients. For example, only 36.4% of the headache specialists with migraine take triptans whereas 94.4% recommend triptans to their patients. Conclusions We conclude that being a headache specialist or a neurologist is associated with an increased migraine or cluster headache prevalence. This personal history of migraine leads to a more somatic view of migraine as a disorder and to different treatment recommendations as compared to self-treatment.

scholarly journals Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for primary headache: A clinical update

Cephalalgia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1370-1384
Author(s):  
Stephen D Silberstein ◽  
Hsiangkuo Yuan ◽  
Umer Najib ◽  
Jessica Ailani ◽  
Andreia Lopes de Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Tolerability Profile ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Non Invasive

Background Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) is a proven treatment for cluster headache and migraine. Several possible mechanisms of action by which nVNS mitigates headache have been identified. Methods We conducted a narrative review of recent scientific and clinical research into nVNS for headache, including findings from mechanistic studies and their possible relationships to the clinical effects of nVNS. Results Findings from animal and human studies have provided possible mechanistic explanations for nVNS efficacy in headache involving four core areas: Autonomic nervous system functions; cortical spreading depression inhibition; neurotransmitter regulation; and nociceptive modulation. We discuss how overlap and interplay among these areas may underlie the utility of nVNS in the context of clinical evidence supporting its safety and efficacy as acute and preventive therapy for both cluster headache and migraine. Possible future nVNS applications are also discussed. Conclusion Significant progress over the past several years has yielded valuable mechanistic and clinical evidence that, combined with the excellent safety and tolerability profile of nVNS, suggests that it should be considered a first-line treatment for both acute and preventive treatment of cluster headache, an effective option for acute treatment of migraine, and a highly relevant, practical option for migraine prevention.

MMPI Personality Profiles in Patients With Primary Headache Syndromes

Cephalalgia ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 263-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Pfaffenrath ◽  
Josef Hummelsberger ◽  
Walter Pöllmann ◽  
Holger Kaube ◽  
Michael Rath
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Tension Type Headache ◽  
Personality Profiles ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Ihs Criteria ◽  
Type Headache

The role of psychological factors in the course of primary headache syndromes is still controversial. Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) we investigated the personality profiles of 434 headache patients (160 migraineurs, 95 with tension type headache, 30 with cluster headache and 149 with combination headache) in accordance with the IHS criteria. In the first three MMPI scales (hypochondria, depression, hysteria) there was a slight increase in T mean values to over 60, but still in the range of two standard deviations of the normal population. There were no statistically significant differences between the four headache groups and between patients with and without analgesic abuse. It was impossible to distinguish headache groups on the basis of their personality profiles by means of reclassification with discriminant analysis. In a cluster analysis, patients with cluster headache showed the highest number (20%) of abnormalities, but also the highest percentage (13%) of completely normal results. Our findings- a cross section analysis of personality profiles-contradict many other MMPI-based studies.

Advances in Medical Management of Cluster Headache

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Stefan Evers ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Surgical Procedures ◽  
Acute Treatment ◽  
Maximum Dose ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Scientific Evaluation ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Daily Dose ◽  
Subcutaneous Sumatriptan ◽  
Zolmitriptan Nasal Spray

Cluster headache is a rare but extremely disabling condition. For the acute treatment of cluster headache attacks, oxygen (100%) with a flow of at least 7l/minute, 6mg subcutaneous sumatriptan and 5mg zolmitriptan nasal spray are the drugs of first choice. Prophylaxis of cluster headache should be performed with verapamil in a daily dose of at least 240mg (maximum dose depends on efficacy and tolerability). Although no placebo-controlled trials are available, steroids are clearly effective in cluster headache. Methylprednisone (or equivalent corticosteroid) at least 100mg orally or up to 500mg intravenously per day over five days (then tapering down) is recommended. Methysergide, lithium and topiramate are recommended as drugs of second choice. Although in part promising, surgical procedures require further scientific evaluation before they can be recommended.

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