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Medications for Cluster Headaches

A term used to describe a headache that is typified by constant, unilateral pain around the eye, with onset usually within 2-3 hours of falling asleep. Can be accompanied by a blocked nasal passage, runny nose, and-or tearing.

Drugs used to treat Cluster Headaches

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
tizanidine Off-label 6.9 30 reviews for tizanidine to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tizanidine systemic
Brand name:
Zanaflex
Drug class:
skeletal muscle relaxants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
sumatriptan 8.4 82 reviews for sumatriptan to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N
Generic name:
sumatriptan systemic
Brand names:
Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
verapamil Off-label 9.0 64 reviews for verapamil to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
verapamil systemic
Drug class:
calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Emgality 6.4 37 reviews for Emgality to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx N
Generic name:
galcanezumab systemic
Drug class:
CGRP inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Zanaflex Off-label 8.0 7 reviews for Zanaflex to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tizanidine systemic
Drug class:
skeletal muscle relaxants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
galcanezumab 6.3 39 reviews for galcanezumab to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx N
Generic name:
galcanezumab systemic
Brand name:
Emgality
Drug class:
CGRP inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Imitrex 8.8 29 reviews for Imitrex to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N
Generic name:
sumatriptan systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
indomethacin 8.5 17 reviews for indomethacin to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
indomethacin systemic
Brand names:
Indocin, Indocin SR
Drug class:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
prednisone 9.0 21 reviews for prednisone to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N
Generic name:
prednisone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Migranal 9.3 3 reviews for Migranal to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
dihydroergotamine systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Cafergot 9.0 6 reviews for Cafergot to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
caffeine / ergotamine systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
cyproheptadine 9.8 4 reviews for cyproheptadine to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx B N X
Generic name:
cyproheptadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
caffeine / ergotamine 9.1 10 reviews for caffeine / ergotamine to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
caffeine / ergotamine systemic
Brand names:
Cafergot, Migergot
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
dihydroergotamine 8.8 8 reviews for dihydroergotamine to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
dihydroergotamine systemic
Brand names:
Migranal, D.H.E. 45
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Imitrex Statdose 9.7 3 reviews for Imitrex Statdose to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N
Generic name:
sumatriptan systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Indocin 9.0 1 review for Indocin to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
indomethacin systemic
Drug class:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
lithium Off-label 8.8 8 reviews for lithium to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx D N X
Generic name:
lithium systemic
Drug class:
antimanic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
zolmitriptan Off-label 9.3 3 reviews for zolmitriptan to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx C N X
Generic name:
zolmitriptan systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
D.H.E. 45 9.0 3 reviews for D.H.E. 45 to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
dihydroergotamine systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Indocin SR Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
indomethacin systemic
Drug class:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Migergot 0.0 1 review for Migergot to treat Cluster Headaches
Rx X N
Generic name:
caffeine / ergotamine systemic
Drug class:
antimigraine agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Cluster Headaches

Learn more about Cluster Headaches

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

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Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.