Master Cluster Headache with Picmonic for Medicine

Men are affected approximately four times as often as women.

The pain of cluster headaches is severe, sudden, and always unilateral. It is distributed in an orbital, supraorbital, or temporal pattern.

Autonomic symptoms occur ipsilaterally, or on one side and only during the active course of the headache. They reflect both hyperactivation of the parasympathetic system, and suppression of the sympathetic system. Symptoms may include lacrimation, conjunctival injection, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, ptosis, miosis, and diaphoresis.

Consumption of alcohol is a well known trigger, with onset of headache often occurring within one hour of use.

Cluster headaches are characterized by the sudden onset of severe, stabbing pain on one side of the head.

Pain attacks last anywhere from fifteen minutes to three hours when untreated.

Cluster headaches occur in repetitive pain attack patterns at the same time of day or same season of the year. The disorder has active cluster periods lasting from seven days to one year in which the patient experiences between one and eight headaches per day. These active periods are separated by periods of remission during which they do not experience any pain attacks.

Administer 100% Oxygen as a first line treatment via nonrebreather mask at a rate of 12-15 L/min to a seated, upright patient. Pain may subside in as little as five minutes, however the treatment should be continued for a minimum of 15 minutes. You can remember this as 15 L/min for 15 minutes.

Oral Ergotamine has been used for a long time in the treatment of cluster headaches, however the evidence supporting its use is limited. It may be effective if given very early in the attack, however it is not first line. Additional less common second line treatments include lidocaine and octreotide.

Triptans are a 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor agonist medication which cause vasoconstriction in cranial arteries. It is indicated as first line treatment along with oxygen. It can be administered subcutaneously or intranasally, however the subcutaneous route has a faster onset of action. Triptans have several important side effects, including nonischemic chest pain and distal paresthesias, and therefore should be avoided in patients with cardiovascular disease, stroke, uncontrolled hypertension, or pregnancy.