CureusDec 25, 2025

Ketamine may help treat Exploding Head Syndrome

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

A 75-year-old man with exploding head syndrome experienced a reduction in episodes after treatment with ketamine.

Episodes of exploding head syndrome included lightning-like sensations, thunder-like sounds, and sleep paralysis.
Initially, treatments like gabapentin and amitriptyline were ineffective over five years.
After one month of ketamine treatment, episodes decreased from 3-4 times weekly to once every two weeks.
By three months, episodes occurred monthly with less intensity, and by six months, symptoms largely resolved.
Ketamine may work by affecting NMDA receptors and promoting neuroplasticity and sleep regulation.
This case suggests ketamine could be a potential treatment for this difficult-to-treat condition.

Simplified

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a parasomnia characterized by the perception of loud noises originating from inside the head during sleep transitions, often accompanied by visual phenomena and fear. Treatment remains challenging due to unknown etiology and limited therapeutic options. We report a 75-year-old man with chronic exploding head syndrome experiencing lightning-like sensations, thunder-like sounds, sleep paralysis, and intense fear during sleep onset. Episodes occurred multiple times weekly for over five years. Initial treatments, including gabapentin, valproic acid, amitriptyline, and buspirone, proved ineffective. The patient was subsequently treated with sublingual ketamine, starting at 25 mg every third night and escalating to nightly dosing. After one month, episode frequency decreased from 3-4 times weekly to once every two weeks. By three months, episodes occurred monthly with reduced intensity. After six months, the patient experienced only occasional sleep paralysis with the complete resolution of exploding head syndrome and reported improved quality of life. Ketamine's mechanism likely involves N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor release, and σ1 receptor agonism, promoting neuroplasticity and sleep regulation. This case represents a reported successful treatment of exploding head syndrome with ketamine, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for this refractory parasomnia. Further studies are warranted to evaluate ketamine's efficacy in exploding head syndrome treatment.

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Ketamine may help treat Exploding Head Syndrome

Abstract

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