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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
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 80 reviews
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 8.9 62 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: verapamil systemic

Brand names:  Calan SR, Verelan PM, Verelan

Drug class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Zanaflex Off-label 8.0 7 reviews
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

Imitrex 8.8 28 reviews
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
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
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
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
Rx X N

Generic name: caffeine / ergotamine systemic

Drug class: antimigraine agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Calan SR 10 2 reviews
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: Prescribing Information

cyproheptadine 9.8 4 reviews
Rx B N X

Generic name: cyproheptadine systemic

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Emgality 5.8 31 reviews
Rx N

Generic name: galcanezumab systemic

Drug class: CGRP inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

dihydroergotamine 8.8 8 reviews
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

caffeine / ergotamine 9.1 10 reviews
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

Imitrex Statdose 9.7 3 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: sumatriptan systemic

Drug class: antimigraine agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Indocin 9.0 1 review
Rx C N X

Generic name: indomethacin systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

zolmitriptan Off-label 9.3 3 reviews
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

lithium Off-label 8.8 8 reviews
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

Verelan PM 10 1 review
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: Prescribing Information

Verelan 8.0 1 review
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: Prescribing Information

D.H.E. 45 9.0 3 reviews
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

galcanezumab 5.8 33 reviews
Rx N

Generic name: galcanezumab systemic

Brand name:  Emgality

Drug class: CGRP inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

Migergot 0.0 1 review
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

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

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.