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Important Notice Regarding Medication Prescriptions for AHN Patients

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Cluster Headaches

These headaches can start suddenly and feel debilitating.

AHN headache specialists can help manage the symptoms, their duration, their frequency, and even help keep them from coming back. 

What is a cluster headache?

These headaches come in batches of frequent attacks called “cluster periods.” They can last for days or weeks at a time. You may have several headaches each day for several days in a row and then experience “remission periods” when you have no headaches for weeks or months. The intense pain of cluster headaches usually stems from the temple or eye, and it can wake you up from a deep sleep.

Symptoms

Cluster headaches hurt more than most other types of headaches. You may experience:

  • Severe pain, centered around one eye or spreading to other areas of your face, head, neck, and shoulders, or on the side of your head.
  • Eye changes on the affected side, such as a drooping eyelid, extra tearing, or redness.
  • Stuffy or runny nose on the affected side of your face.
  • Sweaty, pale facial skin.

Cluster headache care at AHN: Why choose us?

No matter what kind of headache you’re experiencing, the AHN Headache Center is equipped to deal with all manner of headaches — from diagnosis through treatment. You can work with headache specialists, and you’ll have access to a wide variety of cutting-edge medications, therapies, and interventions to reduce or eliminate your pain and keep it from returning.    

How we diagnose cluster headaches

Your doctor will usually diagnose your headache based on your reported symptoms, their frequency, and how long they last. Your doctor may want to run some additional tests to rule out any potential underlying causes of your headaches. 

How we treat cluster headaches

The pain from these headaches comes on suddenly and may not last long, so medications focus on treating symptoms quickly. Our neurologists prescribe the latest therapies proven to be most effective in treating these headaches. Additional treatments may include medications that will help prevent headaches from occurring.  

Contact us

To request an appointment at the AHN Headache Center, call (412) 578-3925 in Pittsburgh or (814) 452-7575 in Erie.

Find us

AHN Headache Center
West Penn Hospital
4815 Liberty Avenue, Suite 439
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
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