Posted by Bob P (129.65.106.76) on November 15, 1999 at 13:20:47:
Last week I e-mailed the Diamond Clinic and asked if they were aware of any research into Flash's claim that psilocybin can stop CH. Seems it's plausable but never tested. I got a similar response from a Dr. at the Univ. of Arizona.
Dear Mr. Pahlow:
Your e-mail caught my attention. I have a special interest in cluster
headaches, and I have seen hundreds of cluster patients. The claim of the
gentleman from Scotland is very interesting, and maybe not so impossible.
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, is closely related to LSD. Both psychedelic
drugs have actions at multiple sites in the CNS. One of the sites is at
presyneptic receptors for 5-HT (serotonergic) receptor, probably on 5-HT2
subtype. It is unknown yet if they work as agonist or antagonist of 5-HT
receptor.
Similarly, methysergide (sonsert) is a potent 5-HT2 antagonist and is a
congener of LSD. Sonsert has been approved as an effective drug for
prophylaxis of migraine and cluster headaches. I have not found any other
information or studies testing psilocybin effectiveness in cluster or other
headaches. But, there is evidence of psilocybin effecting 5-HT receptors and
thus theoretically the process of headaches.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Dr. G. J. Urban, M.D. >Sirs,
-----Original Message-----
From: rpahlow
To: clinic@diamondheadache.com
Date: Tuesday, November 09, 1999 3:43 PM
Subject: Cluster Headache
>
>Just a quick question. I am a 30 year sufferer of episodic cluster
>headaches. Recently at www.clusterheadches.com a gentleman from
>Scotland came to the message board. He claimed that he has prevented
>his annual cluster from happening by taking a one time dose of
>psilocybin at a level equal to 1/4 of the "recreational" dose. He
>claimed that this not only stopped the current headache in it's tracks
>but also ended his cluster. He further stated that to test his theory,
>he induced a headache with alcohol, consummed his potion of psilocybin
>and aborted the headache. I realize that psilocybin is closely related
>to 5-HT.
>Have you ever heard of a claim like this before? Have there ever been
>any studies conducted on the effects of psilocybin on cluster or even
>migraine for that matter?
>I am not interested in legalizing any drugs. However, after 30 years of
>dealing with the torture of CH I am want to grab at straws. Any
>information you could share on the psilocybin/5-HT relationship is
>appreciated.
>
>Bob Pahlow
>1616 16th St
>Los Osos, CA 93402
>(805) 756-5223