What is cluster headaches?

A primary headache disorder characterized by severe one-sided pain in and around the eyes and/or temples. They can last from 15 minutes to many hours occurring 1 to 8 times a day. They are often associated with conjunctivitis, teary eyes, nasal congestion, facial sweating, and eyelid edema.

How do members experience cluster headaches?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with cluster headaches*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for cluster headaches*

*Data from patients with cluster headaches, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with cluster headaches*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Topamax)
Perceived effectiveness
for cluster headaches (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
cluster headaches (5)
Treatment

(Imitrex)
Perceived effectiveness
for cluster headaches (1 evaluation)
Side effects
dizziness upon standing high blood pressure (hypertension) 1 more
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
cluster headaches (4)
Treatment

(Verapamil ER)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
cluster headaches (1)

*Data from patients with cluster headaches, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has cluster headaches on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 55
30s 222
40s 406
50s 407
60s 249
70+ 79

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 450
Female 965