I made a long post in the "Pre-Treatment Options" forum on "
Nimodopine to Improve Facial Nerve Outcomes". It really doesn't fit well in any of the existing categories but rather than cross-post it in multiple places I'm inviting you to read and respond to it in "Pre-Treatment Options". The reason it sort of belongs there is because it is a treatment that you would likely start
before your primary AN/VS treatment. The idea of using nimodipine would be for its potential neuroprotective benefits to reduce facial/trigeminal (and other cranial nerve) nerve damage that may result from radiation or surgery.
The use of nimodipine in conjunction with the treatment of ANs is not FDA approved but I think the research is very promising and earlier this year the Congress of Neurological Surgeons issued the following guidance: “... there appears to be a consistent positive effect of treatment with vasoactive agents, specifically nimodipine, on the outcome of the facial nerve over the long term and potentially on hearing preservation. Although IV therapy is likely more efficacious, oral therapy may be of use as well ... Further research is needed to ascertain the true effect of vasoactive treatments for perioperative improvement in long-term facial nerve and cochlear nerve outcomes; however, treatment may be considered to attempt to achieve this effect in one’s individual practice currently.” The research on the use of nimodipine with AN treatment is on surgical, not radiation, treatment but I think, in principle, it could be helpful to people who are planning to have radiosurgery/radiotherapy.
I made the post to get some feedback and to bring this treatment to the attention of other AN patients after I got zero hits when I searched for nimodipine in the ANA forums. Please don't respond here but please feel free to reply to the post in the "
Pre-Treatment Options" category.
