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Cluster headache treatment dilemmas: The experts respond

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Abstract

When conventional treatment approaches to cluster headache are unsuccessful, expert recommendations are relevant but may not be easily accessible to treating clinicians. We conducted a study of expert recommendations in response to standardized vignettes. Ten expert headache clinicians were asked what treatment they would recommend for a hypothetical 55-year-old male cluster headache patient in the following five situations: 1) known coronary artery disease with response only to sumatriptan; 2) strictly unilateral headaches unresponsive to preventive treatment; 3) effective abortive treatment not covered by insurance; 4) patient request to obtain methysergide from Canada; and 5) headaches responsive only to steroid treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1153 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02130, USA

    Elizabeth Loder MD

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Loder MD
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  2. Paul Rizzoli MD
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  3. Brian McGeeney MD, MPH
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  4. Thomas Ward MD
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  5. Morris Levin MD
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  6. Robert E. Shapiro MD, PhD
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  7. Stewart Tepper MD
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  8. Larry Newman MD
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  9. Fred Sheftell MD
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  10. Alan Rapoport MD
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  11. Herbert Markley MD
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Loder MD.

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Loder, E., Rizzoli, P., McGeeney, B. et al. Cluster headache treatment dilemmas: The experts respond. Curr Pain Headache Rep 11, 141–147 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-007-0012-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-007-0012-z

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