The Clusterbusters (cache) website is focused on the treatment of vascular headaches using hallucinogens like psilocybin. Although this idea may seem far-fetched at first, neurotransmitters like serotonin are chemically very closely related to the triptan prescription medicines, prescription ergotamine, and some hallucinogenic substances. Many people with cluster headaches have used psilocybin and related compounds for breaking a cycle of headaches, and their results have recently been noticed by the medical community.

The following is an abstract of a 2006 study by Sewell and Halpern at Harvard Medical School: "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." PMID:16801660 (cache)

While most other medicines require daily dosages, this approach often requires only a single dose to break a cycle of cluster headaches. The dose needed to trigger a relapse in cluster headaches is lower than that needed for a psychedelic experience. According to anecdotal information gathered by the group, approximately 200 people have reported marked improvement from the treatment.

Although psilocybin is a controlled substance in the US, it is legal or quasi-legal in other countries. This web site does not advocate that you violate the laws of the jurisdiction where you live, but we do believe that discussion of this topic can provide insight into the biology of cluster headaches.

Other drugs that are commonly used/abused for recreational purposes either have no effect on cluster headaches (Narcotics, or actually make cluster headaches worse (Alcohol, Cannabis).

See also LSD.

Disclaimer Copyright