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Medical Research, Reports, Studies, Case Reports Links

 

Cluster Headache – Diagnosis and Treatment – Todd D Rozen

The link above to touchneurology.com provides an excellent paper by Dr. Todd Rozen.  The abstract reads:

Cluster headache is a primary headache syndrome that is under-diagnosed and in many instances under-treated. The pain produced during a cluster headache is more severe than that generated by any other primary headache. Cluster headache is very stereotyped in its presentation and is fairly easy to diagnose with an in-depth headache history. Cluster headache is easy to treat in most individuals if the correct medications are used and the correct dosages are prescribed. This article presents information on the clinical presentation of cluster headache and both medicinal and surgical interventions.

Treatment of Cluster Headache – Peter J. Goadsby, MD, PhD, DSc

Note:  the above link will download and open a .pdf file of the report

The American Headache Society website contains a thorough review by Dr. Goadsby on its “Information Fir Health Care Professionals” page.  It begins with:

Cluster Headache is a very severe primary headache disorder with a population one-year
prevalence of about 0.1 %. Classified as a Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalagia (TAC) (1), it is
probably the second most common form of primary headache encountered by neurologists or
headache specialists. Cluster headache (CH) comes in two dominant forms, episodic CH, in
which there are breaks of a month or more without therapy (80% of patients), and chronic CH in
which such breaks are not seen (20% of patients) (2).

Response of Cluster Headache to Psilocybin and LSD – R. Andrew Sewell, John H. Halpern and Harrison G. Pope, Jr

Note:  the above link will download and open a .pdf file of the report

Published in Neurology in 2006 and linked here from the MultiDisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).  The abstract reads:

The authors interviewed 53 cluster headache patients who had used psilocybin or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)to treat their condition. Twenty-two of 26 psilocybin users reported that psilocybin aborted attacks; 25 of 48 psilocybin users and 7 of 8 LSD users reported cluster period termination; 18 of 19 psilocybin users and 4 of 5 LSD users reported remission period extension. Research on the effects of psilocybin and LSD on cluster headache may be warranted.

This case report lead to the development of a research protocol into the potential use of these substances in the treatment of cluster headache.  While there are yet no clinical trials underway, we provide an easy to read overview of the protocols and procedures that were/are being discussed and developed for future research projects in the  following pages – click here. 

RESPONSE OF CLUSTER HEADACHE TO SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF SEEDS CONTAINING LYSERGIC ACID AMIDE (LSA) – R. Andrew Sewell MD, Kyle Reed, Miles Cunningham MD PhD

Note:  the above link will download and open a .pdf file of the report

Linked here to MAPS is a poster presentation from a case series developed by Dr. Sewell et al.  Their conclusion was:

Alkaloids in seeds know to contain LSA may be affective in aborting cluster attacks, terminating cluster periods, and extending remission periods possibly through a mechanism unrelated to the seeds’ hallucinogenic effects.  No conventional medication either terminates a cluster period or extends remission periods.   Clinicians should be aware of the increasing popularity of this method of self-treatment among their patients.

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