Prednisone for Cluster Headaches User Reviews

• dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2020

"Beast = cluster headaches. Prednisone is a “Beast Keeper,” 40 years. Tried all the whips and pistols. One day, in the 20-some week of a cycle, I decided to go see a doc. And what do you know! Predni happened! 60mg 1x/day/5 days - titrated out to 40mg/3 days, 20mg/3 days. It stopped the cycle after the very first dose. Problem: the Beast began its return 2nd day of the lowest dose. Went back to the trainer. Re-enlisted into Predni. New sched: 40mg 1x/day/4 days. Titrated down: 30mg/4 days, 20mg/4 days, 10mg/4 days. The “Beast” did not come back for 14 months! The longest Beast-less span ever. The Beast showed up 10 days ago. It stopped the Beast on the 1st dose! O-M-G!!! This is unbelievable! I can think, work, sleep, laugh, eat anything, and no freaking pain every 4 or so hours, day and night! Now, to research scientists, please look at the enterochromaffin and enterochromaffin-like cells role in CH. Next question: what (possibly phenotypical) aspect(s) causes them to “overreact”?"

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2019

"I just have to add my joy at finding prednisone as a cluster headache preventative. I've had clusters since college in the '70s and thought they were sinus headaches. Finally diagnosed in the '80s and later in the '90s sought a headache specialist, but no treatments were effective. I tried it all. My local family doctor finally started reading and suggested using prednisone not as a dose pack (which only worked while taking the larger doses) but taking 60-80 mg throughout the early week or two of the “migraine season” then taper down to a minimum until I'm certain I'm safe. It works! I avoid alcohol the entire time, it's my trigger. But I tell you it's my miracle drug. It will not break a headache once it starts, so I use under the tongue sublingual Maxalt, and it's fairly effective in 30 minutes or so. I hope this helps someone. If I had only known more years ago, I could have avoided so much pain, most hideous crippling pain."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2009

"My doctor thinks I have cluster headaches. This is the second medication I am on and I have taken it about 4 times. This is so far the only headache medication that has helped me. They are not gone completely, and after several hours they return, but for several hours I am able to function with a smaller headache."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 24, 2019

"I have been dealing with migraines/cluster headaches my whole life. I'm 45 now, and at 3, I would tell my mom my head hurt. I've done everything from sinus surgery to acupuncture, CAT scans, MRIs, Botox, and back injections. Usually, once something doesn't work, the doctor gives up on me and basically dismisses my concerns. My last doctor diagnosed me with chronic daily migraines and gave me 50 mg of prednisone to take for 2 to 3 days if the Imitrex doesn't work. I love it!! It works!! HOWEVER, after taking it for a few days... I take 2 to 3 a day 'cause 5 is too much, I think. I got so swollen, irritable, broken out, and can't sleep. Then I think I was getting a rebound headache. Ugh... now I try to take just as needed, and it definitely works if I don't take too long. I'm excited to find something to take the edge off when nothing else works."

• jsk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2015

Prednisone "I am 51, and have been getting cluster headaches since 17. Have tried every medication for them, but nothing seemed to work for me. I was finally prescribed Prednisone, it takes a few days to start working, but after I finished the course, I didn't get a single headache for nearly a year. The course was 20 mg a day for 10 to 14 days, depending on the doctor. The length of time without a headache varies, but is usually a year or more."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2019

"This drug, prednisone, is like a miracle for me. No headaches, feel 10 years younger. I just wish I could take it on a regular basis because when I'm down to one a day, headaches return and tired and irritable."

• Oba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2018

"I have been struggling with cluster headaches for almost 50 years. I will go for years in remission and then get a monster onset cluster that wakes me up at 4:00 a.m. and lasts for weeks. I use all the weapons my doc has given me: triptans, anti-seizure drugs, pure oxygen, opiates, and blood pressure meds. Invariably, though, it is a run of prednisone, starting at 60-100 mg a day, increasing until I get relief, then slowly tapering back down and off, that ultimately provides relief."

• Jer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 12, 2017

"I experienced my first cluster headache 27 years ago. It still took me moving to Atlanta and 15 years to find a neurologist that actually helped me. An Imitrex shot works for the very short term, but that's NOT the solution, as we all know. My neurologist put me on a preventative dose of Verapamil and Topomax (that means all the time). When the cycle starts, I take 60 mg Prednisone for 5 days, 40 mg for 4 days, and 20 mg for 4 days. As soon as I begin the Prednisone, my HA's stop, however, since we can't stay on it forever, when I get down to 20 mg, I start medication Cafergot and take it late afternoon. If I don't do this, headaches will pop right back up! *NOTE - Can't take Imitrex within 24 hrs of Cafergot. I was nervous but didn't need it. In cycle now, also diagnosed with MS in 2015."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

"I've been dealing with cluster headaches for about 20 years. My doctor now prescribes 60 mg of prednisone for 5 days, then I taper to 40 mg, 20 mg. This past month I've had a terrible cycle of headaches, but the prednisone keeps them at bay. Unfortunately, I have felt them trickling back in once I taper to 40 mg. The doctor has had me go back up to 60 mg two more times. Hopefully, the cycle will be over soon, as prednisone can make me feel jittery. For me, prednisone is the only thing that has worked for the clusters."

• Bas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2021

"I've had migraines and rebound headaches forever. My doc gave me Prednisone (starting today 1/28/21). 6 pills day one, then 5 pills day 2, etc. I've taken all pills for today and so far not helping at all. From what I read, taking this many pills on day one will 'blast' the rebound headache/migraine out of here! Not for me though. Also took one Ubrelvy which helped for just one hour. I'm at my wit's end. When I say I've tried it all, I mean it. Name a medication, I've tried it. I'm hoping day 2 (and on) will be better. Took Nurtec yesterday which did nothing for me in addition to Advil and Fioricet."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2017

"Have had clusters for 45 years, remember the first one. Ergotamine inhaler worked almost instantaneously but gave me a nasty depression. I take prednisone 2 (10 mg) at breakfast, 1 (10 mg) at dinner. Tried taking less and headaches come back with a vengeance! They mess with my digestive tract some, and a sharp increase in appetite, and an increase in sexual desire. It is not supposed to do that. I will stay on this medication till the cluster cycle ends."

• The...
• February 5, 2021

"I’m having mixed results from prednisone. It does stop my cluster headaches after a couple of days and works for the week that it’s prescribed. But, on coming off the drug, I get a different kind of headache: a dull ache at the back of my skull that’s equally resistant to transitional painkillers as cluster headaches (CH), marginally less painful but very annoying as it can last all day. Would like to know whether it may be a withdrawal pain, and whether it can be safe to stay on a low dose of prednisone long-term."

• Roo...
• August 3, 2017

"In my third recurrence of cluster headaches over a 10-year period, they have become far more intense and frequent, over a month with no letup. As many as four per day. Started on 50 mg for four days. Fifth day no prednisone and headaches were back. Now I'm back on prednisone (60 mg for 5 days and reduce by 10 mg until off), and it is so far keeping them at bay."

• Bog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2014

"Taking the medicine 60 mg (reducing by 5 mg per day over 1 week) worked until the dosage got down to 40 mg, then the headaches came back, and the medicine was not effective at all. I am now on my second week of the same approach from my doctor and am writing this at 04:00. I woke up at 02:00 and have not been able to sleep since. But, only 'normal' headaches so far."

• Lui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2019

"First time I used prednisone (about 40 mg first day and then 30, 20, and 10 and 10) it didn’t work for cluster headaches. Imitrex gives me chest pain, so Dr. prescribed prednisone at 40 mg per day (5 days), then slowly go down. I felt relief the first day. On the second day, pain came back, but at least it's shorter."

• Gsl...
• January 18, 2023

"I have suffered from cluster headaches since I was 15 years old, and I am now 35. I went into remission in my mid-20s with a small cluster every few years that was very mild and bearable with Imitrex. Then would disappear for years again. For the last 2 months, I have had a severe set of clusters, 1-2 daily. These have been unbearable, and I have needed Imitrex injections as frequently as I could. My doctor prescribed me a prednisone dose pack of 4 mg each pill for the nerve pinch in my neck. I took the medication as prescribed, and I have had 2 headaches total during the treatment week, and no cluster headaches. It's been one week so far since taking prednisone, and I must say what an amazing thing! Downside effects: I developed a huge breakout on my face and shoulders."

• yel...
• April 24, 2012

"This is the only medication that has successfully relieved and aborted the onset of cluster headache 'events' during my twenty-year history of cluster headache attacks."

• T b...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2018

"At 40 mg per day, I'm pain-free. Hard to know when it's safe to taper off."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 21, 2020

"I always get headaches after a dose of prednisone. I like that it helps my breathing, but then I suffer from headaches later."

• Oh ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 16, 2022

"Immediate relief. Not just a masking, but a solution. Personally, I experience trouble sleeping, but no other downside."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 29, 2024

"I echo the comments of many others. Prednisone has given me life back. Gone is the nightly agony and the concomitant terror knowing that the crushing pain was coming. So grateful!"