An Introduction to Cluster Headache Treatment
July 13th, 2009 | 
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Cluster headaches cause some of the most debilitating pain of any health problem a person can suffer from. Not only is the pain excruciating but it can stretch on for hours without relief leaving the sufferer completely incapacitated until it subsides. Many sufferers of cluster headaches reach for things like aspirin and Tylenol in their desperation to ease the pain, but these prove to be ineffective. The sad truth is that there is no over-the-counter cluster headache treatment currently available. For most people only a prescription drug can effectively deal with their cluster headaches.
The standard in cluster headache treatments requires the sufferer to take two different kinds of medicine. Any medication taken by a cluster headache sufferer is going to belong to a certain type. The type of medications used in cluster headache treatments are known as prophylactics. Amitriptyline, Nortryptiline, Verapamil and Topiramate are all commonly prescribed as preventative cluster headache treatments. However, once a cluster headache has already started a different kind of medicine is needed. This stage of cluster headache treatment involves medicines such as Sumatriptan and Zolmitriptan which generally need to be injected into the body as opposed to consumed orally.
However, there are a few alternative cluster headache treatments which many cluster headache sufferers have found effective. The inhalation of oxygen right when the cluster headache starts can put a stop to the pain in just a few minutes. However, oxygen inhalation is ineffective once the cluster headache has reached its maximum pain. Many other sufferers have discovered that things like copious amounts of water, good exercise, caffeine or hot showers can put a stop to an oncoming cluster headache.
There are many non-prescription cluster headache treatments to choose from. More people these days seek to avoid prescription drugs when they can and look toward natural supplements for their cluster headache treatments. Magnesium is reported to aid in preventing cluster headaches. Melatonin tablets are also said to have great benefits. Of course natural remedies will not work for everyone and some people would be left unable to function without a prescription cluster headache treatment. The important thing is to find the best treatment for each individual need.
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