Warfarin as a therapeutic option in the control of chronic cluster headache: a report of three cases

• Published in: Journal of headache and pain 2005-10, Vol.6 (5), p.417-419
• Main Authors: Kowacs, Pedro A, Piovesan, Elcio J, de Campos, Ricardo W G R, Lange, Marcos C, Zetola, Viviane Flumingham, Werneck, Lineu C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Anticoagulants - adverse effects; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiopathology; Brief Report; Case studies; Cluster Headache - drug therapy; Cluster Headache - physiopathology; Disease Progression; Drug therapy; Encephalitis - drug therapy; Encephalitis - metabolism; Encephalitis - prevention & control; Headaches; Humans; Hypothalamus - drug effects; Hypothalamus - metabolism; Hypothalamus - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Remission Induction - methods; Treatment Outcome; Trigeminal Nuclei - drug effects; Trigeminal Nuclei - metabolism; Trigeminal Nuclei - physiopathology; Vitamin K - biosynthesis; Warfarin - administration & dosage; Warfarin - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1129-2369; 1129-2377
• DOI: 10.1007/s10194-005-0234-6

Chronic cluster headache remains refractory to medical therapy in at least 30% of those who suffer from this condition. The lack of alternative medical therapies that are as effective as, or more effective than, lithium carbonate makes new therapies necessary for this highly disabling condition. Based on a previous report, we gave oral anticoagulants to three patients with chronic cluster headache. Two of them remained cluster headache-free while taking warfarin. In the third patient, the use of warfarin for three weeks initially increased the frequency and intensity of cluster headache attacks but subsequently induced a prolonged remission. In spite of the paucity of data available, oral anticoagulation appears to be a promising therapy for chronic cluster headache.