Transdermal clonidine in the prophylaxis of episodic cluster headache: an open study.
Transdermal clonidine has recently been reported to be efficacious in the prophylaxis of cluster headache. A 2-week course of transdermal clonidine (5 mg the first week, 7.5 mg the second week) preceded by a 5-day run-in period, was administered to 16 patients with episodic cluster headache in an active cluster period. In 5 patients, the painful attacks disappeared after the seventh day of treatment. For the group as a whole, no significant variations in headache frequency, pain intensity, or attack duration were observed between the run-in period and the first and second weeks of treatment (ANOVA). Further studies are necessary to clarify the effectiveness of transdermal clonidine in the prophylaxis of episodic cluster headache.
Leone
M
M
Headache Center, Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy.
Attanasio
A
A
Grazzi
L
L
Libro
G
G
D'Amico
D
D
Moschiano
F
F
Bussone
G
G
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013565:Sympatholytics; D003000:Clonidine