MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
- It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.
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Questions in the Category: Calcium Channel Blockers
Can nimodipine be used to treat ME/CFS?
I know that nimodipine, a drug that dilates blood vessels, has been used by some doctors in the past to treat ME but this no longer appears to be the case. In view of some of the recent research into both ME/CFS and Long Covid, which indicates that part of the problem may involve reduced blood supply to the brain, I wonder whether this is a drug that we should be looking at again.
Eyelid twitching – Blepharospasm
During the course of my illness I’ve experienced muscle twitching in my legs and sometimes in my arms. The twitching tends to occur when I’m not feeling well or tired. And while this can be annoying it doesn’t normally interfere with what I want to do. I’ve recently started having a similar problem with my eyelids. Is this common in ME/CFS? And is there any form of treatment?
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
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Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
If you are a Health Care Professional you can sign-up to receive ME Medical magazine (people with ME/CFS can also nominate their HCP by completing the sign-up form).