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Olanzapine as an abortive agent for cluster headache
1Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Headache
|September 29, 2001
Summary
Olanzapine effectively treats cluster headaches, significantly reducing pain within 20 minutes for most patients. This study suggests olanzapine is a promising abortive therapy for cluster headache, even for those with contraindications to other treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cluster headache is a severe neurological disorder with limited abortive treatment options.
- Patients with contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs have even fewer therapeutic choices.
Observation:
- This open-label trial evaluated olanzapine as an abortive treatment for cluster headache.
- Five patients with cluster headache were treated with varying doses of olanzapine (2.5-10 mg).
Findings:
- Olanzapine provided at least 80% pain reduction in 4 out of 5 patients.
- Two patients achieved complete headache relief, with pain alleviation typically occurring within 20 minutes.
- Treatment response was consistent across multiple attacks, with sleepiness being the primary adverse event.
Implications:
- Olanzapine shows potential as an effective and rapid-acting abortive agent for cluster headache.
- Its efficacy in both episodic and chronic cluster headache warrants further investigation.
- This offers a new therapeutic avenue for patients refractory to or intolerant of existing treatments.