124
in every 100,000 people in the UK may live with cluster headaches.
8
attacks per day may occur in severe cases, making the condition effectively disabling for some people.
25%
of people with cluster headaches may not be receiving NICE-recommended oxygen medication, a figure that changes depending on which area of the UK you live in.
47.5%
of 1,669 respondents to the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted reported being prescribed the medication for various types of pain.
Symptoms
A blocked or runny nose
Feeling sick
Pain that makes you feel restless
Red, dropping, swelling or watering eye
Sharp, burning or piercing pain
Small pupil on the same side as pain
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
Acute cluster headache treatments try to help during an attack, while preventative treatments can be used to try to stop headaches occurring, or reduce their frequency. In the UK, triptans may be prescribed to reduce pain during a headache, while deep brain stimulation and occipital nerve stimulation may be recommended as a preventative treatment.
Corticosteroids
Deep brain stimulation
Lithium
Occipital nerve stimulation
Oxygen mask treatments
Triptans
Verapamil
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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"Cluster headaches are excruciating attacks of pain on one side of the head, often around the eye. Traditional treatments sometimes fall short. Medicinal cannabis may provide relief by interacting with the endocannabinoid system to modulate pain pathways and reduce inflammation, as suggested by emerging clinical evidence."
Dr Michal Modestowicz
Neurology
12. 07. 2023
The incidence of cluster headaches in the UK, and in the world generally, is quite low. Roughly 27,000 people in the UK suffer from cluster headaches, with a majority experiencing episodic cluster headaches. Looking past the incidence, cluster headaches can be intimidating and traumatic for anyone.
12. 07. 2023
12. 07. 2023
Migraines are a common neurological condition that is characterised by a severe headache (often on one side), sensitivity to light or sound, and fatigue. Over 6 million people in the UK suffer from migraines. There are over 190,000 migraine attacks per day in the UK, so imagine how much disruption to home and work life this health issue causes. More women than men develop this complex neurological condition.
12. 07. 2023
26. 05. 2023
The cannabis plant contains over 110 cannabinoids occurring naturally, providing potentially potent and distinct benefits for mind and bodily functions. Thanks to the recent explosion in cannabis legality, researchers are finally gaining the type of access they need to delve into the vast potential of these compounds for medical applications.
26. 05. 2023
In some cases, you may be eligible for medical cannabis for cluster headache treatment. A medical professional may decide that the medication could offer some relief for the pain, nausea, and sleeplessness associated with this headache disorder.
In the UK, medical cannabis treatments for cluster headaches have been a potential option since 2018, when prescribed under the supervision of a medical professional. No evidence currently suggests medical cannabis could stop cluster headaches from occurring, but the medication could help with some types of symptom management.
Cluster headaches are one of several trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs), which are all headache disorders that exist as primary conditions, not a result of another illness, infection, or underlying condition. Cluster headaches are not the same as migraines, and are unlikely to respond positively to conventional migraine and headache medication.
Cluster headaches are a much rarer condition than migraines. Only 124 people in 100,000 experience cluster headaches, compared to 15-23 in 100 people with migraines.
It’s important to note that cluster headaches are also not “just bad headaches.” The pain that occurs with cluster headaches builds so fast that it renders most over-the-counter pain medication useless. Swallowing paracetamol or ibuprofen will rarely help, because by the time this medication has been absorbed by the body, the attack may have ended. Some attacks only last 15 minutes, although others can last up to three hours, according to the NHS.
As well as sharp pain in the head, people with cluster headaches may experience pain in their eye and face, and the pupil may shrink temporarily on the affected side.
Medical cannabis for cluster headaches may help some people due to the plant’s potential impact on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is linked to various aspects of health and wellness, including pain perception, sleep, mood regulation, and the nausea response.
There’s limited research on the role of the ECS in cluster headaches. However, research published in 2017 in the journal Concussion concluded that the ECS can have a direct effect on the trigeminal nerve, which is heavily involved in the pain caused by cluster headaches. The research was focused on post-traumatic head injury, not headache disorders, but the implication is that medication that has a therapeutic effect on the ECS could reduce sensitivity to trigeminal nerve-related pain.
Cluster headaches tend to follow circannual and circadian patterns, meaning they often recur at the same times of the year and day. One survey stated that 82% of 1,134 cluster headache patients experienced the attacks at approximately the same time every day. Disordered sleep is associated with cluster headache attacks, and the attacks themselves worsen sleep. Some research even suggests that cluster headaches could be a manifestation of a sleep disorder, although there is no clear evidence for this. Improved sleep could, for some people, help with cluster headache symptoms, although these connections are not well understood.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of cluster headaches, and how medical cannabis could offer potential relief:
|
Cluster headache symptom |
How symptom presents |
Cluster headache medical cannabis treatment: how it may help |
|
Intense pain |
Sharp, excruciating pain, usually on one side of the head, often affecting the face and eye as well. |
Medical cannabis is associated with a reduction in the perception of pain and may even offer an anti-inflammatory effect, for some people. This is possible due to the medication’s effect on the ECS, which is known to be linked to the modulation of various types of pain. |
|
Anxiety associated with the fear of pain can be debilitating. Feeling nervous, worried, and on edge is a normal response to what some neurologists refer to as “one of the worst pains known.” Anxiety can affect someone’s ability to work, socialise, or perform daily tasks. |
A review of research from 2025 claims that 70% of relevant studies support administering CBD or THC for anxiety. Patient stories also offer hope, with some patients reporting significant reductions in anxiety symptoms, including panic attacks and social anxiety. |
|
|
Research shows that depression is common among people with cluster attacks, and that when a person is depressed, the number of days they have attacks may increase. Concerns about the severity of pain, loss of earnings, and isolation can all contribute to cluster headache-related depression. |
A study from 2025 suggests that THC-dominant cannabis is associated with sustained reductions in depression symptoms. |
|
|
Sleeplessness is a natural response to pain, and people with cluster headaches may feel the need to pace or move about when they’re in the midst of an attack. |
A 2022 review of medical cannabis and sleep studies linked cannabis-based treatments to improvements in sleep quality, with “moderate certainty.” |
|
|
Nausea |
The intense pain of cluster headaches may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. |
Current research suggests that the ECS is linked to nausea and vomiting regulation, making cannabinoids a promising source of relief for nausea and vomiting, for some people. High doses of cannabis can induce vomiting, which is why dose management is critical. |
Patients may wonder whether THC or CBD for cluster headache treatment is more effective. Both are cannabinoids found in medical cannabis, and when you receive a medical cannabis prescription, the medication will contain both, as well as many other potentially therapeutic compounds.
THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, appears to work by binding directly to receptors in the ECS. This may modulate how receptors send signals throughout the body, potentially modulating pain signals, the nausea response, sleep quality, and various other aspects of wellness. It’s this direct effect on the ECS that can cause impairment and intoxication, at high doses. That’s why medical cannabis can only be prescribed under the supervision of an expert consultant.
CBD may offer a more supportive effect, potentially slowing the breakdown of enzymes and other compounds in the ECS, and indirectly acting on receptors to alter how they react to other compounds.
The combination of cannabinoids and other compounds, such as terpenes, could offer a more holistic approach to pain, sleep, mood, and nausea management, for some people.
In the UK, cluster headache cannabis treatment may come in the following forms:
· Oils
· Pastilles
· Dried flower for vaporisers
If eligible, you’ll discuss the best formats for you and your current symptoms and situation with a consultant. They will also discuss what dosage is appropriate for you, and the best time to take your medication to offer the most potentially therapeutic effect.
When it comes to medical cannabis and cluster headaches, it’s unlikely a consultant will recommend the medication as a replacement for current treatments. Instead, this plant-based option may offer a more holistic approach to symptom management.
If you’re already taking oxygen to reduce the impact of attacks, medical cannabis will not replace this. For people not prescribed oxygen, a consultant may recommend that you pursue this with your GP or specialist, depending on where you are in the UK, as this is a NICE-recommended first-line treatment.
Triptans may be part of your treatment plan, taken as injections or a nasal spray as soon as an attack occurs. Sometimes, you may be told to take both triptans and oxygen at the same time.
A preventative medication called verapamil may be prescribed to try to prevent the onset of attacks. However, side effects include slowing of the heart, so regular ECGs are required, and this medication isn’t suitable for everyone.
Medical cannabis may sit alongside these medications for potential everyday symptom management, offering possible relief for symptoms linked to cluster headaches, like anxiety and nausea.
The link between cannabis and headaches isn’t well-researched. Some evidence suggests that cannabis misuse could lead to worse headaches in both patients with cluster headaches and migraines. This is yet another reason why medical cannabis must be prescribed by a professional who can manage the dosage and offer appropriate advice.
If you’re considering medical cannabis for cluster headache treatment in the UK, you can fill out the Releaf eligibility checker.
How Releaf works: Fill out the 30-second form, and if you’re eligible, book a consultation. Your consultant will consider your current situation and decide if medical cannabis could help with cluster headache symptom management. If you decide to go ahead, you can pay for your medication on a pay-as-you-go basis or opt for Releaf+, a monthly service that includes additional benefits, including legal advice via Releaf Protect.
If you’re ready to join the 240,000+ Releaf community and learn more about medical cannabis for cluster headaches, fill out the medical cannabis eligibility checker or contact our team.
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