U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know

      Official websites use .gov
                A
                .gov
                website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
          Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
                A lock
                  (
                  
                  )
                   or
                  https://
                   means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.Search
                Menu
    
                      Información en Español
                      Search NINDSSearch NINDS
            

            Main navigation
  

        
              Health Information
                                     Toggle Health Information Dropdown
                                Disorders
                Clinical Trials
                Patient & Caregiver Education
                Public Education
                Support Resources
                Funding
                                     Toggle Funding Dropdown
                                Find Funding Opportunities
                About Funding
                Preparing Your Application
                After You Submit
                Determining Your Funding Likelihood
                Manage Your Award
                NINDS Small Business Program
                Training & Career Development
                Current Research
                                     Toggle Current Research Dropdown
                                Coronavirus and NINDS
                Focus on Disorders
                Focus on Tools & Topics
                Research Funded by NINDS
                Research at NINDS
                Scientific Resources
                Trans-Agency Activities
                News & Events
                                     Toggle News & Events Dropdown
                                Events
                News
                Director's Messages
                About NINDS
                                     Toggle About NINDS Dropdown
                                Who We Are
                What We Do
                Job Opportunities 
 Home
                                Health Information
SHARE: Paroxysmal Hemicrania
On this page

            What is paroxysmal hemicrania?

Paroxysmal hemicrania is a rare form of headache that brings on severe throbbing and claw-like pain usually on one side of the face near the eye and occasionally around the back of the neck. The pain may be accompanied by:

Red and tearing eyes
	A drooping or swollen eyelid on the affected side of the face
	Nasal congestionPeople with paroxysmal hemicrania may also feel dull pain, soreness, or tenderness between attacks. Attacks typically occur from five to 40 times per day and last two to 30 minutes. The disorder has two forms:

Chronic, in which attacks occur daily for a year or more
	Episodic, in which the headaches may decrease or disappear for months to yearsCertain movements of the head or neck or external pressure to the neck may trigger these headaches in some people. The disorder is more common in females than males. The disorder usually begins in adulthood.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indomethacin often provides complete relief from symptoms. Other less effective NSAIDs, calcium-channel blocking drugs (verapamil), and corticosteroids may be used to treat the disorder. People with both paroxysmal hemicrania and trigeminal neuralgia (a condition of the fifth cranial nerve that causes sudden, severe pain typically felt on one side of the jaw or cheek) should receive treatment for each disorder.

file-medical

Learn About Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are studies that allow us to learn more about disorders and improve care. They can help connect patients with new and upcoming treatment options.

How can I or my loved one help improve care for people with paroxysmal hemicrania?

Paroxysmal hemicrania is considered rare, which often means there is not much information known about it. This is usually the case because doctors and researchers do not see many people withparoxysmal hemicrania, which makes it hard to learn from them through observations or large studies.

Consider participating in a clinical trial so doctors can learn more aboutparoxysmal hemicrania. Clinical research uses human volunteers—both those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—to help researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease.

For information about participating in clinical research visit NIH Clinical Research Trials and You at NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people withparoxysmal hemicraniaor other types of headaches atClinicaltrials.gov.

Where can I find more information about paroxysmal hemicrania?

The following organizations and resources may provide information on paroxysmal hemicrania and other types of headaches:

American Headache SocietyPhone:856-423-0043

National Headache FoundationPhone: 312-274-2650 or 888-643-5552

PubMed

Learn about related topics

Headache
book-open

Order publications from the NINDS Catalog

The NINDS Publication Catalog offers printed materials on neurological disorders for patients, health professionals, and the general public. All materials are free of charge, and a downloadable PDF version is also available for most publications. Health Information
  
    

    Disorders
                                                              
                    
                                      Glossary of Neurological Terms
    
            Order PublicationsClinical Trials
                                                              
                    
                                      Clinical Trials in the Spotlight
    
            Find NINDS Clinical TrialsPatient & Caregiver Education
                                                              
                    
                                      Brain Attack Coalition
    
            Brain DonationPublic Education
                                                              
                    
                                      Brain Basics
                                                              
                    
                                      Know Your Brain
    
            Understanding Sleep
    
            Preventing Stroke
    
            The Life and Death of a Neuron
    
            Genes and the BrainKnow Stroke
                                                              
                    
                                      Health Professionals
                                                              
                    
                                      NIH Stroke ScalePatients and Caregivers
    
            Researchers
    
            Shareable Resources
                                                              
                    
                                      Recursos en EspañolMigraine Trainer® App
                                                              
                    
                                      Migraine Trainer® Shareable ResourcesMind Your Risks®
    
            NINDS Brain Educational Resources
        
  
              
    
            Support Resources
                                                              
                    
                                      Patient Organizations
    
            Professional Societies
    
            Government Resources

Did you find the content you were looking for?
  Yes, I did find the content I was looking for



No, I did not find the content I was looking forPlease rate how easy it was to navigate the NINDS website
  Very easy to navigate



Easy to navigate



Neutral



Difficult to navigate



Very difficult to navigateThank you for letting us know! Any other feedback?Submit

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policyand Terms of Serviceapply.

      Last reviewed on November 28, 2023
        Contact Us
  

        
              Contact NINDS
                Visitor Information
        Related Sites
  

        
              Site Map
                National Institutes of Health
                Department of Health & Human Services
                USA.gov
        Policies
  

        
              Accessibility
                Freedom of Information Act
                Linking Policy
                Privacy Statement
                Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
Follow NINDS On Social Media
          
          National Institutes of Health (NIH)
          9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892