I Just recently got a diagnosis of suffering from cluster headaches from my Dr.  I have had these before usually once a year , sometimes once every two years, since I graduated college but never knew what they were.  I have had a current 'cycle' for almost two weeks now and have extreme pain behind my right eye, my eye lid droops and have tears out of that eye when in an attack.  I sometimes kick my legs when in extreme pain.  I usually get 2-3 every day now and they are generally at the same times of the day/night, give or take a couple hours.  I thought the Imitrex pills were working while taking 1/2 hour to kill the intensity at least but some say Imitrex pills don't work?  Does that mean that my intense pain was dying down after half hour or will a pill bring down the intensity for some people?

Also, I got a strong twitch in my arm while just getting ready to fall asleep tonight.  It was a common twitch that people get sometimes, but it was way more intense.  Could it be due to the higher inflamation/activity in my nerves associated in the right cranial?  Anybody else have elevated nerve reaction while on a cycle?  Thanks everyone........thanks for showing I'm not alone.

Many folks find the Imitrex pill too slow acting for the rapid onset of Cluster. Injection form is first choice.

Throwing a couple of basic articles at you and would suggest exploring the buttons, left, starting with the OUCH site.
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Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
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See the PDF file, below.

Thanks everyone.  I appreciate the help.  I just got through an attack at 2amMT last night and used the spray my doc gave me. It worked but took 25min.  I then fell asleep and had another attack at 5amMt.  I had taken a spray dose of imitrex the evening before so I didn't take anything because my doctor said not to take them so close (i.e. 3 in 8 hours).

I am so exausted now and am missing some work this morning.  God I'm so tired of this already and I'm barely at almost 2 weeks.

I haven't used any preventive meds yet.  I heard Melatonin works for some and you can get over the counter, is that right? I really don't want to get on even more medication if I can help it.  I am really trying to go the oxygen route.