Baclofen and Cluster headache

Baclofen belongs to a class of drugs known as muscle relaxants; it is used to relieve muscle spasms and contractions in conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Researchers at the Meir General Hospital in Israel evaluated the use of baclofen in 16 patients treated during the cluster period and two weeks after. After a week, 12 patients’ cluster headache attacks stopped. One patient was substantially better and became attack-free by the end of the following week. In the remaining three patients, the cluster headache attacks became worse and corticosteroid drugs were given. Three of the 16 patients had an additional cluster period, which resolved with a second course of baclofen. Researchers concluded that baclofen was effective and well tolerated for cluster headache. Furthermore, the drug retained its efficacy on repeated cluster attacks.