Suspension of Short‐lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT) symptoms with ayahuasca and serotonergic psychedelics
Jonathan A. Leighton, Cyril Petignat, Brian E. Mcgeeney
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1111/head.14722 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA patient with SUNCT, a severe headache disorder causing intense, short-lived pain, found that ayahuasca—a psychoactive brew traditionally used by South American indigenous groups—completely stopped their attacks after other treatments had failed. Inhaled DMT, the main psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca, and a strong dose of LSD also temporarily eliminated symptoms. This case suggests that serotonergic psychedelics may offer a new avenue for treating SUNCT and similar headache conditions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient with Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT) |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca N lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) |
| Topics | Ayahuasca LSD Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Medicine |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca, inhaled DMT, and LSD each caused complete cessation of SUNCT headache attacks in a patient who had not responded to other treatments. |
Abstract
Plain Language Summary A suicidal patient with Short‐lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT) whose excruciating condition did not respond to various treatments discovered that ayahuasca, a psychoactive concoction used by indigenous populations of South America, caused his attacks to cease entirely. Inhaled N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the principal psychoactive component of ayahuasca, also caused symptoms to disappear temporarily, as did a strong dose of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). This case study supports the potential of serotonergic psychedelics for the treatment of SUNCT and related headache disorders.