Could a One-Time ketamine infusion tame cluster headaches?
NCT ID NCT04814381
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a single 2-hour infusion of ketamine combined with magnesium sulfate can reduce the number of daily attacks in people with refractory chronic cluster headache—a rare and severe headache disorder. 93 adults who had at least 2 attacks per day and did not respond to standard treatments received either the drug combination or an active placebo (hydroxyzine). The main goal was to compare weekly attack counts before treatment and one week after.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
ketamine and magnesium sulfate combination
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new, quick-acting option to reduce daily attacks for people with hard-to-treat chronic cluster headache.
What could go wrong
This is a single infusion with only short-term follow-up (90 days). The earlier promising results were from a small, uncontrolled study, so the placebo-controlled trial may not confirm the same benefit.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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AP-HM Marseille
Marseille, 13005, France
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CH Annecy Genevois
Annecy, 74370, France
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CHRU De Lille
Lille, 59000, France
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CHU Grenoble-Alpes
Voiron, 38500, France
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CHU Nantes, Hopital Nord Laennec
Nantes, 44000, France
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CHU Rouen
Rouen, 76100, France
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CHU de Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, France
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CHU de Montpellier
Montpellier, 34295, France
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Clinique Beau Soleil
Montpellier, 34070, France
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Hopital Pierre Paul Riquet
Toulouse, 31059, France
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Hopital de Hautepierre
Strasbourg, 67098, France
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Hospices civils de Lyon, Hôpital Pierre Wertheimer
Lyon, 69500, France
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Hôpital Lariboisière
Paris, 75010, France
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Polyclinique Jean Villar
Bruges, 33520, France