title: Intranasal lidocaine for cluster headache.
abstract: Thirty male patients with cluster headache were given 4% lidocaine solution to use intranasally as an abortive therapy. Four sprays of lidocaine were used ipsilateral to the pain, and two more were used, if necessary. Twenty-seven percent of the men reported moderate relief, 27% obtained mild relief, and 46% stated that they had no relief from the lidocaine, Side effects were minimal. In this study, intranasal lidocaine was only a marginally helpful therapy for cluster headache. However, because of the ease of administration and lack of side effects, lidocaine may remain worthwhile as an adjunctive medication.
authors.affiliation: Robbins Headache Clinic, Northbrook, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine