Posted by Miguel (4.40.20.153) on September 22, 2000 at 19:27:08:
this article may help some in here:
Baclofen in cluster headache.
Hering-Hanit R, Gadoth N
Department of Neurology, Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba, and the Sackler Faculty of
Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Cluster headache is a rare, severe, clinically well-characterized disorder that occurs in both
episodic and chronic forms. The painful short-lived attacks occur unilaterally and are
associated with signs and symptoms of autonomic involvement. They are difficult to treat, and
reported prophylactic therapies include ergotamine, steroids, methysergide, lithium
carbonate, verapamil, valproate, capsaicin, leuprolide, clonidine, methylergonovine maleate,
and melatonin. Baclofen, an antispastic agent, has been shown to have an antinociceptive
action. Its efficacy in the treatment of neuralgias, central pain following spinal lesions or
painful strokes, migraine, and medication misuse chronic daily headache suggested that it
may prevent cluster headache attacks. Nine cluster headache patients received baclofen, 15
to 30 mg, in three divided doses. Within a week, six of nine patients reported the cessation of
attacks. One was substantially better and became attack free by the end of the following
week. In the remaining two patients, the attacks worsened and corticosteroids were
prescribed. In this pilot study, baclofen seemed to be effective and well tolerated for the
prevention of cluster headache.