Relieving the Pain of Cluster Headaches: Psilocybin and Related Chemicals

Cluster headaches (also known as “suicide headaches“) are one of the most excruciating pains known to medicine. This brief presentation by Jonathan Leighton describes the condition and OPIS’s project to ensure access to effective treatments for patients. In particular, he describes the numerous reports of dramatic benefits obtained with psilocybin and other chemically-related substances (including at sub-hallucinogenic doses) in preventing and aborting cluster headache attacks and entire episodes. He then discusses our ongoing efforts to persuade governments to remove legal barriers to patients accessing these treatments for self-medication and by medical prescription. Given the extreme severity of the condition and the relative safety of psilocybin and related substances, the removal of such barriers is a clear ethical obligation. This presentation was given at the EAGxVirtual Unconference on 20 June 2020, organised by the Effective Altruism community.