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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
07:30
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Cluster attacks responsive to recreational cannabis and dronabinol
Matthew S Robbins1, Sara Tarshish, Seymour Solomon
1Montefiore Headache Center, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Headache
|February 18, 2009
Summary
Cannabinoid compounds, like dronabinol, show promise for treating cluster headaches when other medications fail. This study highlights their potential effectiveness in managing this severe pain syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cluster headache is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by severe unilateral head pain.
- Current treatments for cluster headache often include acute and preventive medications, with varying success rates.
Observation:
- A patient with cluster headache refractory to multiple treatments found relief using recreational marijuana.
- Dronabinol, a cannabinoid compound, provided equally effective pain relief for the patient's cluster headache attacks.
Findings:
- Cannabinoid compounds may be effective in aborting cluster headache attacks.
- The high concentration of cannabinoid receptors in the hypothalamus could explain the therapeutic effect.
Implications:
- Cannabinoids represent a potential novel therapeutic option for patients with treatment-resistant cluster headache.
- Further research into the role of the endocannabinoid system in cluster headache pathophysiology is warranted.
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