Cluster Headaches: Other Treatment
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Other Treatment
While medicines may effectively control cluster headache pain or reduce the number of headaches in a cycle, another treatment to consider is high-flow oxygen inhalation therapy.
During high-flow oxygen inhalation therapy, you breathe in 100% oxygen through a face mask soon after a headache begins. Usually, the headache pain stops within 10 to 20 minutes. This therapy may prevent additional headaches in the cycle from occurring. But if another headache does occur, you will need to repeat the procedure as soon as the next headache in the cycle begins. This treatment may be more effective in people under the age of 50 who only occasionally have cluster headaches.
High-flow oxygen inhalation therapy will not prevent cluster headaches. It provides only temporary relief of headache pain. Also, you'll need an oxygen tank near you at all times for immediate treatment when a cluster headache cycle begins. Some people find this inconvenient or not possible.
| Last updated: | April 11, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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