TRANSDERMAL CLONIDINE IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF EPISODIC CLUSTER HEADACHE- AN OPEN STUDY

Transdermal clonidine has recently been reported to be efficacious in the prophylaxis of cluster headache. A 2-week course of transdermal cl onidine (5 mg the first week, 7.5 mg the second week) preceded by a 5- day run-in period, was administered to 16 patients with episodic clust er headache in an active cluster period. In 5 patients, the painful at tacks disappeared after the seventh day of treatment. For the group as a whole, no significant variations in headache frequency, pain intens ity, or attack duration ware observed between the run-in period and th e first and second weeks of treatment (ANOVA). Further studies are nec essary to clarify the effectiveness of transdermal clonidine in the pr ophylaxis of episodic cluster headache.