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Prophylactic Treatment of Episodic Cluster Headache

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Cluster Headache
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00184587
Lead Sponsor
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether candesartan cilexetil are effective prophylactic treatment of episodic Cluster headache

Detailed Description

Cluster headache is an unilateral headache with periodic attacks, that usually lasts for 6 to 12 weeks. The pain is usually unbearable. The attacks are treated with injections of sumatriptan (migraine medication)and inhalation of oxygen.

The most common prophylactics today has limited effect and a risk of side effects.

Candesartan has in one study shown a clinically significant effect in migraine prophylaxis.

The angiotensin II receptor blocker, candesartan is well tolerated with side-effects not significantly different from placebo and with few drug interactions. We therefore wish to investigate the prophylactic effect in treatment of cluster in headache patients.

This will be a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel study where the prophylactic effect of candesartan is compared to placebo in a period of 3 weeks. First week 16 mg and the following 2 weeks 32 mg.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • The episodic cluster headache must be diagnosed according to the IHS classification. Had at least one episode with cluster headache before inclusion. Previously had at least one cluster headache episode lasting one month or more. At the time of inclusion, the cluster headache period shall not have lasted more than 3 weeks
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnancy, nursing, decreased hepatic og renal function, psychiatric illness, cardiac problems, hypersensitivity to candesartan, previous serious allergic reaction to medication, chronic cluster headache, drug/alcohol abuse, use of antipsychotic,antidepressants, lithium or other prophylactic treatment less than one month prior to inclusion, systolic blood pressure below 110 mmHg, use of other hypertensive medication, use og other specific attack medication than sumatriptan injection or oxygen 7-10l/min and inability to change medication, use of other triptans than sumatriptan during the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
placeboplaceboplacebo one tablet/day in week 1 and 2 tablets/day in week 3, provided for the study by AstraZeneca. Same size, weight, taste and appearance as experimental drug
candesartancandesartan cilexetilcandesartan cilexetil 16 mg (one tablet/day) in week 1 and 32 mg (2 tablets/day) in week 3, provided for the study by AstraZeneca
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
frequency of attacks per weekchange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
level of disabilitychange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3

5-point scale; 0= no disability, 1= mild, 2= moderate, 3= severe, 4= unbearable

duration of attackschange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
hours with cluster headachechange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
days with cluster headachechange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
occurrence of autonomic symptomschange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
number of treatments with sumatriptan or oxygenchange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3
patient satisfaction with treatmentchange from 'pseudobaseline' week 1 to week 3

scale from 1 to 10 with 1= very poor effect and 10= very good effect

headache severity indexchange from baseline to 1 week and 3 week

product of level of disability and duration of attacks

candesartan-responders3 weeks

patients with a 50% or more reduction in attack frequency in week 3 than in week 1

placebo-responders3 weeks

patients with a 50% or more reduction in attack frequency in week 3 than in week 1

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Norwegian National Headache Centre St.Olavs Hospital

🇳🇴

Trondheim, Norway

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