The results of PREEMPT 2 demonstrate that onabotulinumtoxinA is effective for prophylaxis of headache in adults with chronic migraine. Repeated onabotulinumtoxinA treatments were safe and well tolerated.

There was no between-group difference for the primary endpoint, headache episodes. However, significant reductions from baseline were observed for onabotulinumtoxinA for headache and migraine days, cumulative hours of headache on headache days and frequency of moderate/severe headache days, which in turn reduced the burden of illness in adults with disabling chronic migraine.

The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of occipital nerve stimulation for medically intractable headache. Electrical stimulation of large sensory afferents has an antinociceptive effect. Occipital nerve stimulation may be effective for the treatment of medically intractable headache. Retrospective analysis was performed of 15 patients with medically refractory headache who underwent implantation of an occipital nerve stimulator. Pre- and postimplant data regarding headache frequency, severity, disability, depression and poststimulator complications were collected. Twelve patients were female and three male. Ages ranged from 21 to 52 years (mean 39 years). Eight patients had chronic migraine, three chronic cluster, two hemicrania continua and two had post-traumatic headache. Eight patients underwent bilateral and seven had unilateral lead placement. Patients were measured after 5-42 months (mean 19). All six mean headache measures improved significantly from baseline (P < 0.03). Headache frequency per 90 days improved by 25 days from a baseline of 89 days; headache severity (0-10) improved 2.4 points from a baseline of 7.1 points; MIDAS disability improved 70 points from a baseline of 179 points; HIT-6 scores improved 11 points from a baseline of 71 points; BDI-II improved eight points from a baseline of 20 points; and the mean subjective percent change in pain was 52%. Most patients (60%) required lead revision within 1 year. One patient required generator revision. Occipital nerve stimulation may be effective in some patients with intractable headache. Surgical revisions may be commonly required. Safety and efficacy results from prospective, randomized, sham-controlled studies in patients with medically refractory headache are needed.

Hypnic headache syndrome is a rare, sleep-related, benign headache disorder. We report 19 new cases (84% females) with follow-up data. The mean age at headache onset was 60.5 +/- 9 years (range 40-73 years). Headache awakened the patients from the night's sleep at a consistent time, usually between 1.00 and 3.00 a.m. (63%); three patients (16%) reported that identical headaches could occur also during daytime naps. Headache frequency was high, occurring more than 4 nights/week in 68% of the patients. Headache resolution occurred within 2 h in 68% of patients. Neurologic examination, laboratory studies, and brain imaging were unrevealing at the time of diagnosis. Headache severity largely remains unchanged or attenuates over time, but frequency may vary in either direction. Only one patient had spontaneous relief from headache. Four patients (24%) achieved permanent suppression of headache with medication, and two were able to abort individual headache attacks. Caffeine in a tablet or beverage was helpful in four patients. Lithium carbonate therapy caused side effects requiring cessation of treatment in four patients.