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Cluster headaches is a type of rare headache disorder that causes reoccurring, excruciating and intense headaches - typically affecting one side of the head. Anecdotal, real-life evidence suggests that medical cannabis may be able to reduce the severity of pain felt during a headache, and for this reason it has been endorsed by a high percentage of those who have tried cannabis treatments for migraine or headache relief.
Am I eligible?People in the UK suffer from cluster headaches, affecting 1 in 1,000.
Men are 3 times more likely to experience cluster headaches than women.
Of sufferers support the use of medical cannabis migraine treatments.
Reduction in headache severity reported after cannabis use in a patient survey.
“Having a medical cannabis card makes me feel better - and that counts“
Daisy, Releaf Patient
October 2023
Articles on Cluster headaches
View all12. 07. 2023
The incidence of cluster headaches in the UK, and in the world generally, is quite low. Roughly 27,000 people in the UK suffer from cluster headaches, with a majority experiencing episodic cluster headaches. Looking past the incidence, cluster headaches can be intimidating and traumatic for anyone.
12. 07. 2023
12. 07. 2023
Migraines are a common neurological condition that is characterised by a severe headache (often on one side), sensitivity to light or sound, and fatigue. Over 6 million people in the UK suffer from migraines. There are over 190,000 migraine attacks per day in the UK, so imagine how much disruption to home and work life this health issue causes. More women than men develop this complex neurological condition.
12. 07. 2023
26. 05. 2023
The cannabis plant contains over 110 cannabinoids occurring naturally, providing potentially potent and distinct benefits for mind and bodily functions. Thanks to the recent explosion in cannabis legality, researchers are finally gaining the type of access they need to delve into the vast potential of these compounds for medical applications.
26. 05. 2023
A blocked or runny nose
Feeling sick
Pain that makes you feel restless
Red, dropping, swelling or watering eye
Sharp, burning or piercing pain
Small pupil on the same side as pain
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Acute cluster headache treatments try to help during an attack, while preventative treatments can be used to try to stop headaches occurring, or reduce their frequency. In the UK, triptans may be prescribed to reduce pain during a headache, while deep brain stimulation and occipital nerve stimulation may be recommended as a preventative treatment.
Corticosteroids
Deep brain stimulation
Lithium
Occipital nerve stimulation
Oxygen mask treatments
Triptans
Verapamil
Clinic Director
Most people with this diagnosis have ‘episodic’ cluster headaches, which is characterised by clusters of recurring headaches that last from 4 to 12 weeks, then several months headache-free before another cluster occurs.
The headaches themselves can last between 15 minutes to a number of hours. They can severely impact daily activities and a person’s ability to work during attacks, which can poorly impact a person's quality of life, and contribute to the development of mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
Since its legalisation in 2018, medical cannabis and cannabis-based products have emerged as a new treatment option for patients with cluster headaches that have not been responding to conventional treatments.
This is because evidence suggests that medical cannabis can interfere with pain signals, and reduce the perception, or severity, of pain, and often, medical cannabis patients note an improvement in their quality of life after starting treatment. Medical cannabis cluster headache treatments are not suitable for everyone, but they may be able to offer relief to patients who have yet to find this response with conventional, licensed options.
