Suspension of Short‐lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT) symptoms with ayahuasca and serotonergic psychedelics
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain May 1, 2024 Jonathan A. Leighton, Cyril Petignat, Brian E. Mcgeeney 2 citations
A 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.