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Important notes by
PinkSharkMark
part1
part2
thoughts,
theories, myths
The Theory of Hallucinogens as a Treatment for Cluster Headaches
The hallucinogenic substances are close enough to serotonin in structure that they fool serotonin receptors into bonding with them. This is a known factual property of these drugs. There may be an element of how the individuals body responds. In some cases, LSD has worked as a treatment where mushrooms have failed and vice versa. There may also be a factor of previous drug history, such as use of triptans, methysergide and ergotamine.
Nobody knows the exact mechanism for episodic cluster headaches (chronics are actually easier to comprehend). It may be that a chemical imbalance or erratic release of neurotransmitters slowly takes place in the brain. Over a period of time this reaches a threshold whereby it begins to cause headaches. The headaches gradually become more painful and more frequent until a peak is reached. From that point they subside as the imbalance or erratic release is addressed. The headaches may even be the mechanism to facilitate this, however this is unlikely as it does nothing to explain the existence of chronics.
The hallucinogens may shock the body into resetting this
imbalance or erratic release ahead of schedule. The favourite analogy is that
of an old tube radio slowly drifting off station that periodically requires a
sharp whack on the side to keep it in check.
[CB]
When the molecules of psilocin bind to the 5-HT receptor sites which normally would be occupied by 5-HT (serotonin) molecules instead, the signal that gets sent up the axon of the affected neuron is SLIGHTLY different than the signal which gets sent when it is occupied by a serotonin molecule. One of the results of this slightly altered signal is the various psychedelic perceptions we all know and love -- auditory and visual distortions of perceived objects. But another result is that a signal gets sent to the hypothalamus (or whatever else it is in our brain that periodically gets out of whack and initiates a cluster cycle) telling it to "reset" itself to its normal "non-cluster" mode of operation.
But there's something else going on as well. One of the most widely-reported but least understood subsidiary effects of dosing with a powerful hallucinogen is the "tolerance" and "cross-tolerance" effect. For several days after a significant dose of a hallucinogen such as LSD (and to a perhaps lesser extent with psilocin and mescaline) the receptivity of the binding sites is altered. That is to say that if you take a dose of LSD on Friday you'll get zonked. Take the same sized dose on Saturday and you'll barely get a buzz. Take a third dose on Sunday and you may feel nothing at all. And this works with ANY of the psychedelics -- if you dose with LSD on Friday you not only won't get high from a saturday LSD dose, you won't get high on a Saturday mescaline dose or psilocin dose either. This is known as "cross-tolerance".
It takes several days for the receptivity of the binding sites to return to their "pre-dose" state. And this effect manifests itself even though all detectable traces of LSD (or whatever) have left the bloodstream. This suggests that it's not just a case of the psychedelic molecule hanging around the receptor site for days and days, but that the receptor site has been in some way temporarily ALTERED by the psychedelic experience.
What is the precise nature of this alteration? What are the SUBSIDIARY effects of this alteration apart from preventing you from getting high for several days? Damned if I know, but logic tells me there HAS BEEN an alteration. I hypothesize that for the period of time it takes for the tolerance effect to wear off, the synapses are also operating in a slightly different manner than normal in regards to how they react to (or even perhaps generate?) cluster headaches. My evidence for this is the widely-reported phenomenon of clusterheads who could normally set their watch by the timing and severity of their attacks experiencing more frequent and/or more severe attacks than usual in the few days after dosing. It's as if the synapses are in a state of confusion.
To me, it is no accident that the "tolerance" period and the "whacked out cluster timing" period coincide. I think the odds of these two phenomena being linked causally are pretty high.
The upside of this is that when the synapses do settle down in a few days, they settle down into a "pre-cluster headache cycle" mode. Or at least they do if all has gone well. For many people (myself included) it takes just one "shake up" dose for this to occur. For others it can take several doses.
If you are experiencing increased activity on the third day after
dosing, my guess would be that the "tolerance" period of your receptors is
ending -- that your personal "no way to get high" window is around three or
four days. Your receptors are going through their transition from their
"stoned" state to their "ready to get stoned once again" state.
[PSM]
There is currently work being done at the Harvard Medical School regarding official research into this treatment. We hope that there will soon be an official FDA approved study that cluster sufferers will be able to participate in. Stay tuned for updates on the details as to when people can register.
Clusterbusters is currently compiling data from sufferers that
have already tried this treatment and additional background information from
ALL cluster sufferers. This information is being forwarded to the researchers
currently working on this and is vital to the project.
If you have
tried this treatment, please help us out by filling out the Treating Cluster
Headaches & Migraines with Psychedelics Survey created by Falsh, Pinky and
Erowid:
Erowid Survey
Also check out and complete the survey
located at:
ClusterBuster Survey
Your participation could help in future research regarding this
important treatment alternative. We are also obtaining critical data with a
Quality of Life Impact Survey that can be found at:
Quality of Life Survey #1 and
Quality of
Life Survey #2
This survey is for all cluster sufferers to complete.
This additional information will be very helpful in the process of gaining
FDA's final approval of the clinical trials.
Other Medical Research Being Done With Psilocybin
- Magic of mushrooms gets medical nod
More On Cancer Research - DMT and Psilocyban Research
- Medical Hallucinogens
- The Psilocybin/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Study
- Serotonin, psilocybin and body dysmorphic disorder: A case report
- Scientists Test Hallucinogens for Mental Ills
The Pharmaceutical Companies Position
Several pharmaceutical companies have been contacted regarding this treatment. There was some open and candid discussion on the subject. Essentially there would have to be a clinical trial before they would be interested. A successful clinical trial on humans would save the pharmaceutical companies considerable time and expense. Secondly the treatment would have to become widespread, to the extent that the pharmaceutical industry was losing money on it's existing product lines.
psiloscribe@yahoo.com