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The pain relieving effect of somatostatin treatment during 72 attacks of cluster headache in 8 male patients was compared to treatment with ergotamine or placebo in a double-blind study. Infusion of somatostatin (25 micrograms/min for 20 min i.v.) reduced the maximal pain intensity and the duration of pain significantly compared to placebo treatment, and to a degree comparable to ergotamine tartrate treatment (250 micrograms i.m.). The results obtained provide new information concerning the possible mechanism of cluster headache attacks and suggest a new therapeutic approach.
Sicuteri et al. (Sun,) studied this question.