Where cluster headache treatment is heading
Cluster headache · Updated Nov 13, 2026
Cluster headache causes attacks of extreme one-sided pain around the eye, often at night, in bouts lasting weeks. It affects about 1 in 1,000 people, more men than women. Oxygen and triptan injections stop attacks; verapamil and steroids prevent them. Research is testing CGRP drugs, nerve treatments and psychedelics.
- 23studies open or running
- 2phase 3 trials
- 132papers published this year
- 6NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Diagnosis still takes about 10 yearsHappened 10.43 yrs to diagnosis
Average delay is 10.43 years, though falling each decade.
10.43 yrs: average delay to diagnosis.
CGRP antibodies are disappointingHappened 50.9% attacks halved
Eptinezumab missed its main goal; erenumab did not help chronic cluster headache.
50.9%: had attacks halved in week 2, vs 37.3% with placebo.
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6 months
by May 2027
Occipital nerve injections studied furtherPossible
Dutch and Norwegian trials of repeated nerve injections and nerve-block botox are reporting.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
First controlled LSD resultsPossible
Radboud LSD trial (65 people) and a Basel LSD trial finish in 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
A fast nasal spray for attacksLong shot
A UT Health trial will test zavegepant spray, a migraine drug, for acute cluster attacks.
Treating night-time attacksLong shot
Leiden will test low-sodium oxybate, a sleep drug, for nocturnal attacks.
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5 years
by late 2031
The body clock behind attacksLong shot
NIH-funded work studies how clock genes in the trigeminal nerve time headache pain.
The research paths
Psychedelics
Details and 1 trialsHide
LSD and psilocybin tested in controlled trials after years of patient reports.
WatchRadboud and Basel results.
CGRP and migraine drugs
50.9% attacks halvedDetails and 1 trialsHide
Mixed results; galcanezumab helps episodic bouts, others less so.
WatchZavegepant for acute attacks.
Nerve treatments and sleep
Details and 1 trialsHide
Nerve injections, blocks and sleep-targeted drugs.
WatchOxybate trial.
Borrowed from other conditions
From Migraine
Eptinezumab
Phase 3, missed goal
An IV CGRP antibody approved for migraine prevention.
From Narcolepsy
Sodium oxybate
Phase 2
A sleep drug tested for night-time attacks.
Open to join now
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Chronic cluster headache, Netherlands
LSD
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Cluster headache trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Biology A mouse model of cluster headacheUT Health San Antonio · NIH Funded through May 2027 News likely 2027
What just happened
Eptinezumab misses main goal
JAMA Neurology.
Erenumab no better than placebo
Chronic cluster headache.
Standard treatment today
- Stopping an attackHigh-flow oxygen; sumatriptan injection or zolmitriptan nasal spray.
- Bridging a boutShort steroid course or occipital nerve injection.
- PreventionVerapamil (with ECG checks); lithium or topiramate; galcanezumab for episodic.
- Chronic, resistantNerve stimulation (occipital or sphenopalatine), specialist care.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Psychedelics are being studied in trials only; they are not approved treatments.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Cluster headache trials recruiting now →