Therapeutic Effects of Intranasal Sumatriptan for Cluster Headache

Abstract

To clarify the associated factors for negative response to sumatriptan nasal spray in patients with cluster headache, we investigated the involvement of clinical information, such as the characteristics of headaches, before commencing sumatriptan nasal spray treatment. There were 18 male patients and 4 female patients. A total of 17 responders and 5 non-responders to sumatriptan nasal spray participated in the present study. Three factors for negative response to sumatriptan nasal spray, “young age of onset”, “psychiatric disorder”, and “the headache is not in the orbit,” were found. Oxygen inhalation and/or subcutaneous injection were effective for nonresponsive cases. Therefore, these factors are considered to be useful for predicting therapy before applying sumatriptan nasal spray.