Ketamine as Treatment for Cluster Headache: A Systematic Review of Literature and a Case Series.
Johannes Neumann, Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti, Gudrun Rumpold-Seitlinger, Kordula Lang-Illievich, Christoph Klivinyi
Pain and therapy June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-024-00606-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods paper: systematic review and cohort study Randomized Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Patients with cluster headache treated with ketamine infusions |
| Intervention | Ketamine infusions |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Quality of life Systematic review Treatment Cluster headaches Pain management Ketamine therapy Clinical research Neurological disorders |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Ketamine might decrease cluster headache, and patient satisfaction with treatment was high, but the evidence is limited and heterogeneous. |
Abstract
Cluster headache is a severe and debilitating neurological condition characterized by intense, excruciating pain with a significant impact on patients' wellbeing. Although different treatment options are available, many patients continue to experience inadequate relief. Therefore, experimental strategies are increasingly studied. One of the more promising approaches is the use of ketamine. We present the currently available evidence and our own data. In this mixed-methods paper, we first summarize the available evidence of ketamine for treatment of cluster headache based on a systematic review of literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library of systematic reviews. As the level of evidence is quite limited, we report our own cohort study with ten patients treated with ketamine infusions for cluster headache. They were followed up to investigate the patients' experience of treatment success and quality of life. The search and review of literature identified four reports with a total of 68 patients. All were uncontrolled case series. The current literature suggests that ketamine might decrease cluster headache. However, as the applied regimes and reported outcomes are highly heterogeneous, further analysis was futile. Our own data show high patient satisfaction with ketamine treatment. Despite the limited evidence, ketamine might be considered a potential therapeutic approach for cluster headache. Therefore, further research including randomized controlled trials should be encouraged.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of a single dose of intravenous ketamine on suicidal ideation: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis Depressed patients with suicidal ideation at baseline | 2017 | Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis | n = 167 |
| Ketamine use: a review Ketamine users | 2011 | Systematic review | |
| Ketamine and Other NMDA Antagonists: Early Clinical Trials and Possible Mechanisms in Depression Participants with major depression in placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized... | 2015 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Ketamine and postoperative pain – a quantitative systematic review of randomised trials Surgical patients from 25 countries | 2004 | Systematic review | n = 2,839 |
| Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review. Patients with depression | 2018 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics April 10, 2013
- Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Neurology June 26, 2006
- Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine Journal of Neuroscience November 30, 2020
- Exploratory investigation of a patient‐informed low‐dose psilocybin pulse regimen in the suppression of cluster headache: Results from a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain November 1, 2022
- Increased use of illicit drugs in a Dutch cluster headache population Cephalalgia October 5, 2018