Chronic Cluster Headache

Chronic cluster headaches occur in about 10% to 20% of cluster headache patients who have a chronic form that lasts more than a year.

These patients have remissions lasting less than 14 days. Two chronic subtypes have been defined:

Chronic cluster headache that is unremitting from the onset.

This type may be more commonly associated with heavy alcohol use.

Chronic cluster headache that has evolved from episodic cluster.

One study found a higher risk of transforming from episodic to chronic in patients who developed cluster headaches in their thirties or older and who had more frequent attacks and shorter remissions than average. Another study suggested that this condition occurs more often in heavy smokers, although the link is uncertain.

The treatment of chronic cluster headaches is usually a bit more lengthly and more aggressive than a routine bout of cluster that lasts for a month or so.

For these patients, two or three days of successive IV infusions of steroid may be required, followed by several weeks of steroid. At the same time, oral medications such as verapamil and/or lithium could be very effective.

cluster headache, chronic cluster headache

Additional Treatments

Dont lose hope! Recent studies have indicated that occipital stimulation may have good effect in preventing chronic cluster headaches. Until available generally, you might want to talk to your doctor about occipital nerve blocks as several of these would serve the same purpose.

You might also talk to your doctor about using lithium as a while to break these headaches..although a medication not generally used for cluster, it might be effective for you. You most probably would have to be on it for a few months and then could discontinue it.
Read more about treatment for this type of pain.

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