Sumatriptan injections eliminate cluster headaches faster and more reliably than they do for migraines. In fact, none of my patients has reported a failure of a sumatriptan injection to eliminate a cluster attack. This police officer consulted me for headaches in November 1994 when he was 24 years old. Headaches began during his junior year of high school at age 17. Since then, they have appeared once or twice during consecutive 24-hour periods for weeks or months before disappearing for months to a year.
Many headaches begin during sleep.
All headaches have been in the right temple. Many are excruciating. He can't sit still or lie down when they strike, but instead leans foreward placing his right eye in his hand while rocking forwards and backwards. Fortunately, headaches last no longer than 30 minutes. During attacks, his right eye waters, his right nostril feels congested, and his face perspires.