Use of Prescribed and Non-Prescribed Treatments for Cluster Headache in a Swedish Cohort
Brain Sciences March 31, 2024 Gabriella Smedfors, Felicia Jennysdotter Olofsgård, Anna Steinberg et al. 4 citations
Cluster headache (CH) is a debilitating condition with limited effective treatments. A survey of 314 Swedish CH patients found that less than half (46%) were satisfied with their abortive treatments, and 19% stopped functioning abortive treatments due to side effects. Among chronic CH patients, 17% had never tried the first-line preventive drug verapamil. A small subset (0–8%) had used illicit substances; psilocybin was reported effective as an abortive treatment by 100% (n = 8) and as a preventive treatment by 92% (n = 12). Verapamil showed some preventive effect for 68% (n = 85). Many patients are undertreated and experience side effects, indicating a need for new strategies and revised guidelines.