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Psilocybin for the Treatment of Migraine Headache

Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin for the Treatment of Headache Disorders: Sub-Study I

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03341689
Enrollment
14
Registered
2017-11-14
Start date
2017-11-01
Completion date
2021-10-31
Last updated
2023-10-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Migraine Headache

Keywords

Psilocybin

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of oral psilocybin in migraine headache. Subjects will each receive a dose of placebo and a dose of psilocybin approximately 14 days apart. Subjects will be randomized to the order of treatment and they will be randomized to receive either low or high dose psilocybin. Subjects will maintain a headache diary prior to, during, and after the treatments in order to document headache frequency and intensity, as well as associated symptoms. This preliminary study will inform on the basic effects of psilocybin in migraine headache and inform on the design of larger, more definitive studies.

Detailed description

The number of arms reflects the design of the enhanced blinding method. The final enrollment number reflects the number of subjects participating in study procedures.

Interventions

0.143 mg/kg psilocybin capsule

0.0143 mg/kg psilocybin capsule

DRUGPlacebo

microcrystalline cellulose capsule

Sponsors

Ceruvia Lifesciences
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Yale University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of migraine headache per ICHD-3beta criteria * Typical pattern of migraine attacks with approximately two migraines or more weekly * Attacks are managed by means involving no more than twice weekly triptan use * Age 21 to 65

Exclusion criteria

* Axis I psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar I, depression with psychosis) * Axis I psychotic disorder in first degree relative * Unstable medical condition, severe renal, cardiac or hepatic disease, pacemaker, or serious central nervous system pathology * Pregnant, breastfeeding, lack of adequate birth control * History of intolerance to psilocybin, LSD, or related compounds * Drug or alcohol abuse within the past 3 months (excluding tobacco) * Urine toxicology positive to drugs of abuse * Use of vasoconstrictive medications (i.e. sumatriptan, pseudoephedrine, midodrine) within 5 half-lives of test days * Use of serotonergic antiemetics (i.e. ondansetron) in the past 2 weeks * Use of antidepressant medication (i.e. TCA, MAOI, SSRI) in the past 6 weeks * Use of steroids or certain other immunomodulatory agents (i.e. azathioprine) in the past 2 weeks

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in migraine attack-related functional disabilityFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage disability (4-tiered pain score; 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)
Change in migraine attack frequencyFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage number (number per week)
Change in migraine attack durationFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage duration (measured in hours)
Change in migraine headache daysFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage days (number of days per week)
Change in pain intensity of migraine attacksFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage pain intensity (4-tiered pain score; 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)
Change in intensity of nausea/vomiting during migraine attacksFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage intensity (4-tiered pain score; 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)
Change in intensity of photophobiaFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage intensity (4-tiered pain score; 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)
Change in intensity of phonophobiaFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diaryAverage intensity (4-tiered pain score; 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to second migraine attackFrom the day of each session until two weeks after each test sessionMeasured in days
Change in the use of abortive/rescue medicationFrom two weeks before first session to two weeks after second session using a headache diarynumber of days (number of days per week using a migraine abortive)
Time to first migraine attackFrom the day of each session until two weeks after each test sessionMeasured in days
Quality of life using the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Health-Related Quality of Life Scale: Healthy Days Symptoms ModuleFrom two weeks before first session to three months after second session using a headache diary4 questions scored 0 to 30 each; higher numbers indicate worse quality of life. (1) pain-related impairment, (2) mood symptoms, (3) anxiety symptoms, and (4) lack of sleep Percent change for each measure as well as total score (range 0 to 120) will be calculated.
Psychedelic effects using the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scaleTaken on each test day approximately 6 hours after drug administration94 questions scored 0 to 100 each; higher numbers indicate greater psychedelic effects Questions address 5 dimensions: (1) Oceanic boundlessness (score range 0-2700), (2) Dread of Ego Dissolution (score range 0-2100), (3) Visionary Restructuralization (score range 0-1800), (4) Auditory Alterations (score range 0-1600), and (5) Vigilance reduction (score range 0-1200) Score for each dimension as well as total score (range 0 to 9400) will be measured.
Change in blood pressureMeasured during each test session prior to drug administration, every 15 minutes in the first hour, every 30 minutes in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)Maximum change in mean arterial blood pressure from baseline during each test day (mmHg)
Change in heart rateMeasured during each test session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)Maximum change from baseline during each test day (beats per minute)
Change in peripheral oxygenationMeasured during each test session prior to drug administration, every 15 min in the first hour, every 30 min in the second hour, and then hourly for 4 hours or until resolution of psychedelic effects (~6 hours post drug)Maximum change from baseline during each test day (SpO2)

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 25, 2026