Subcutaneous sumatriptan in the acute treatment of cluster headache: a dose comparison study. The Sumatriptan Cluster Headache Study Group.
This multicentre, double-blind, randomised, crossover study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg and 12 mg) with placebo in 134 in-patients with cluster headache. Headache improvement to mild or no pain at 5, 10 and 15 min after treatment was recorded. At 10 min, headache relief was reported by 25% (placebo), 49% (6 mg) and 63% (12 mg) of patients and at 15 min the results were 35% (placebo), 75% (6 mg) and 80% (12 mg) (p < 0.001 for all comparisons with placebo). The 12 mg dose was not significantly better than the 6 mg dose and was associated with more adverse events. The 6 mg dose is therefore recommended for the acute treatment of cluster headache.
Department of Neurology, Söder Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
K
K
Ekbom
I
I
Monstad
A
A
Prusinski
J A
JA
Cole
A J
AJ
Pilgrim
D
D
Noronha
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010919:Placebos; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007211:Indoles; D010919:Placebos; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D018170:Sumatriptan