What is the best way to get rid of a cluster headache?

Nasty and painful: The upside of a cluster headache is a duration of about 30-90 minutes. It may respond to inhalation of 100% oxygen over 5 or so minutes. Usually a pain med doesn't get absorbed fast enough. Perhaps the best approach is to prevent the ha, and meds such as topirimate, valproex, naproxen, or butterbur work quite nicely.

As a doc who gets..: Cluster headaches, a pulse taper of Prednisone seems to block the cluster pain. Oxygen, lithium and a couple of other meds did nothing.

Sumatriptan: Two strategies are employed: treatment for the actual headache once it comes, prevention of additional headaches once a cluster has begun. Treatment may require subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan (brand name imitrex), 100% inhaled o2, intra-nasal lidocaine. Prevention varies between patients but may utilize steroids, lithium, verapamil, topiramate. Work with a doc experienced with this disease.