Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are severe attacks of pain that can last for long periods. They're not caused by another illness. They can have a real impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.

Prescription review online

Prescription review online

A doctor will review your case and issue a prescription if medically appropriate.

Talk to a doctor online

Talk to a doctor online

Discuss your symptoms and possible next steps with a doctor online.

Doctor
5.0(14)

Sergey Ilyasov

PsychiatryNeurology7 years of experience

Dr Sergey Ilyasov is an experienced neurologist and qualified psychiatrist who provides online consultations for adults and adolescents. Combining deep neurological expertise with a modern psychiatric approach, he ensures comprehensive diagnostics and effective treatment for a wide range of conditions affecting both physical and mental health.

Dr. Ilyasov helps patients in the following cases:

  • Chronic headaches (migraine, tension-type headache), back pain, neuropathic pain, dizziness, numbness in limbs, coordination disorders.
  • Anxiety disorders (panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder), depression (including atypical and treatment-resistant forms), sleep disturbances (insomnia, hypersomnia, nightmares), stress, burnout.
  • Chronic pain syndromes and psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome related to stress, vegetative-vascular dystonia).
  • Behavioral disorders and concentration difficulties in adolescents (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders), nervous tics.
  • Memory impairments, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), emotional swings, and support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Thanks to his dual specialization in neurology and psychiatry, Dr Sergey Ilyasov offers integrated and evidence-based care for complex conditions requiring a multidisciplinary approach. His consultations focus on accurate diagnosis, development of an individualized treatment plan (including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic methods), and long-term support adapted to each patient's unique needs.

Book an online consultation with Dr. Sergey Ilyasov to receive qualified assistance and improve your well-being today.

Book a video appointment
€106
This page provides general information and does not replace a doctor’s consultation. If symptoms are severe, persistent or worsening, seek medical advice promptly.

Cluster headaches are severe attacks of pain that can last for long periods. They're not caused by another illness. They can have a real impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.

Symptoms of a cluster headache

Cluster headaches are severe headaches that can happen multiple times a day and continue for weeks or months. They may stop for a while (weeks, months or years), or there may be no gap between headaches.

The main symptoms of a cluster headache include:

  • a sharp, burning or piercing pain, usually on 1 side of the head, around the eye
  • headaches that happen at the same time of year or at set times of the day
  • headaches that start and stop quickly, without warning
  • pain that can make you feel restless, you may want to walk around or move your body
  • headaches that last between 15 minutes and 3 hours

You may also get other symptoms, such as:

  • a red and watering eye on the same side as the pain
  • feeling sick
  • drooping and swelling in the eyelid on the same side as the pain
  • a smaller pupil in the eye on the same side as the pain
  • face sweating
  • a blocked or runny nose

Cluster headaches are rare but some of their common symptoms can be the same as other conditions, such as migraine.

Find out about migraines

See a GP if:

  • you think you might have cluster headaches
  • your headaches keep coming back
  • painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol do not help your headaches
  • your headaches are so painful they make you restless and agitated
  • you've been diagnosed with cluster headaches and they're getting worse, lasting longer than usual, or your usual treatments are not helping

Get an urgent GP appointment or call 112 if:

You have a severe headache and:

  • jaw pain when eating
  • blurred or double vision
  • a sore scalp
  • other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs

These could be symptoms of temporal arteritis.

Call 112 or go to A&E now if:

You have either of these symptoms for the first time (even if you've already been diagnosed with cluster headaches):

  • 1 of your eyelids is drooping
  • the pupil in 1 of your eyes is smaller than the other

Find your nearest A&E

What happens at your appointment

There are no specific tests to diagnose cluster headaches. A GP will ask you about the pain, location and frequency of your headaches. They’ll also ask about any other symptoms you’re having.

Other conditions can have similar symptoms to cluster headaches. A GP may refer you to a specialist for a brain scan to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

Treatments for cluster headaches

There’s no cure for cluster headaches, but a specialist may recommend treatments to help ease and prevent symptoms.

Painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, do not work.

Treatments that help during a cluster headache

If a cluster headache has already started, the main treatments include:

  • medicines called triptans, given as an injection or a nasal spray
  • oxygen, which is breathed through a mask
  • using a device to give mild electrical pulses to the back of the neck

Rarely, when other treatments have not worked, you may be offered surgery. This involves implanting a small device to help treat your headaches.

Treatments to prevent a cluster headache

Your GP may prescribe medicines that can help to prevent a cluster headache before it starts.

These can include corticosteroids, verapamil or lithium.

Ask a GP for advice about common triggers. Understanding this may help you to avoid a cluster headache

Causes of a cluster headache

It’s not known what causes cluster headaches.

They’re more common in men in their 30s and 40s, or if you have a close family member who gets them.

Some people find certain triggers can cause cluster headaches, such as:

  • smoking
  • drinking alcohol
  • perfume
  • the smell of paint, nail varnish or petrol
  • exercise

Keeping a headache diary may help you to understand your triggers.

Consult with a doctor about Cluster headaches

Consult with a doctor about Cluster headaches

Discuss your symptoms and possible next steps with a doctor online.

Online doctors for Cluster headaches

Discuss your symptoms and possible next steps for Cluster headaches with a doctor online.

Doctor
5.0(14)

Sergey Ilyasov

PsychiatryNeurology7 years of experience

Dr Sergey Ilyasov is an experienced neurologist and qualified psychiatrist who provides online consultations for adults and adolescents. Combining deep neurological expertise with a modern psychiatric approach, he ensures comprehensive diagnostics and effective treatment for a wide range of conditions affecting both physical and mental health.

Dr. Ilyasov helps patients in the following cases:

  • Chronic headaches (migraine, tension-type headache), back pain, neuropathic pain, dizziness, numbness in limbs, coordination disorders.
  • Anxiety disorders (panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder), depression (including atypical and treatment-resistant forms), sleep disturbances (insomnia, hypersomnia, nightmares), stress, burnout.
  • Chronic pain syndromes and psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome related to stress, vegetative-vascular dystonia).
  • Behavioral disorders and concentration difficulties in adolescents (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders), nervous tics.
  • Memory impairments, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), emotional swings, and support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Thanks to his dual specialization in neurology and psychiatry, Dr Sergey Ilyasov offers integrated and evidence-based care for complex conditions requiring a multidisciplinary approach. His consultations focus on accurate diagnosis, development of an individualized treatment plan (including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic methods), and long-term support adapted to each patient's unique needs.

Book an online consultation with Dr. Sergey Ilyasov to receive qualified assistance and improve your well-being today.

Book a video appointment
€106
Doctor
5.0(36)

Andrei Popov

General medicinePain medicine7 years of experience

Dr. Andrei Popov is a family physician with specialized training in the management of chronic pain. He provides video consultations for adults in Spain and across Europe: whether you have been living with pain for months that no one has been able to properly explain, or you need to resolve a health issue without waiting weeks for an appointment.

His approach is clear: to listen, organize your case, and provide you with a practical roadmap based on evidence-based medicine and adapted to your medical history and personal needs.

Pain: how he can help

  • Chronic pain (more than 3 months
  • Migraine and recurrent or high-intensity headaches
  •  Neck, lower back, back and joint pain
  •  Post-traumatic pain after injuries or surgeries
  •  Pain of neurological origin: neuralgia, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia

General medicine

  • Frequent respiratory infections (cold, flu, persistent cough)
  • Hypertension, diabetes and metabolic disorders
  • Review of laboratory tests and MRI/CT reports (explained in clear language)
  • Preventive medicine and health monitoring
  • Second opinions and treatment adjustments (when clinically appropriate)

What the consultation is like
 Each session lasts up to 30 minutes. We review symptoms, medical history, medications and any tests you provide, and you finish the consultation with a clear treatment plan, defined next steps, and criteria to understand when follow-up may be needed. If warning signs are detected, he will clearly advise whether you need in-person care or urgent medical attention.

Book a video appointment
€86
Doctor
0.0(0)

Maria Martelli

AnaesthesiologyPain medicine12 years of experience

Dr Maria Martelli is a medical doctor specialising in anaesthesiology and pain medicine. She provides online consultations for adults, focusing on the assessment and management of acute, chronic, and complex pain conditions, as well as supportive care in serious illness. She graduated from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice and completed her specialisation in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. Alongside hospital work, she has extensive experience in home and inpatient hospice care, supporting patients with severe pain and advanced disease. Since 2021, she has been a certified specialist and continues to work in anaesthesiology, intensive care, and pain treatment. Patients consult her for: 

  • Chronic pain lasting more than 3 months (musculoskeletal, neuropathic, mixed pain).
  • Acute pain requiring medical assessment and treatment planning.
  • Post-operative pain and recovery support.
  • Cancer-related pain and symptom relief.
  • Palliative care support and quality-of-life improvement.
  • Adjustment and optimisation of pain medication.
  • Second opinions for complex or treatment-resistant pain.

Dr Martelli takes a structured, evidence-based approach, carefully analysing symptoms, previous treatments, and overall health status. Her consultations focus on realistic pain control goals, safety of therapy, and improving daily functioning. She is especially attentive to patients living with long-term pain or serious illness, providing clear explanations, compassionate guidance, and medically sound recommendations adapted to each individual situation.

Book a video appointment
€105

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