title: Use of cannabis among 139 cluster headache sufferers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A case report suggested the efficacy of cannabis to treat cluster headache (CH) attacks. Our aims were to study the frequency of cannabis use in CH patients, and the reported effects on attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 139 patients with CH attending two French headache centers filled out questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three of the 139 patients (45.3%) had a history of cannabis use. As compared to nonusers, cannabis users were more likely to be younger (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.002) and tobacco smokers (p < 0.001). Among the 27 patients (19.4% of the total cohort) who had tried cannabis to treat CH attacks, 25.9% reported some efficacy, 51.8% variable or uncertain effects, and 22.3% negative effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabis use is very frequent in CH patients, but its efficacy for the treatment of the attacks is limited. Less than one third of self-reported users mention a relief of their attacks following inhalation. Cannabis should not be recommended for CH unless controlled trials with synthetic selective cannabinoids show a more convincing therapeutic benefit.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Headache Center, Head and Neck Clinic, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, France. leroux.neuro@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leroux
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Taifas
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valade
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donnet
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chagnon
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts