There is drug-free relief in sight for those who suffer from painful cluster headaches, as a large new study offers best evidence of the use of high-flow oxygen treatment for cluster headaches. According to researchers, 78% of those who received oxygen treatment, within 15-minutes of treatment reported themselves to be pain-free or achieving adequate pain relief.

Already a part of accepted guidelines, use of oxygen treatment for cluster headaches has been limited due to a lack of high-quality studies that support its effectiveness.

Cluster headache attacks, characterized by bouts of excruciating pain, lasting anywhere from 15-minutes to 3-hours, affect about 0.3% of the population and could occur several times a day.

A triptan drug Imitrex injection is the most effective treatment for cluster headaches, however, potential side effects limit its use. People with medical problems like coronary heart disease are also recommended not to use the drug.

The study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association was conducted on 76-adult patients aged 18 to 70 experiencing either episodic cluster headache (57) or chronic cluster headache (19). During four cluster headache episodes, the patients alternatively received high-flow oxygen (inhaled oxygen at 100%, 12-litres per minute and delivered via face mask for 15- minutes at the start of the attack, or simply high-flow air, without knowing which treatment they were receiving during each episode.

Over three-fourths of those receiving oxygen treatment reported being pain-free or having adequate pain relief within 15-minutes of treatment, compared with 20% of air treatment.

No adverse side effects were reported with the oxygen treatment.