Nimodipine (brand – Nimotop®) is a calcium channel blocker which may be helpful in reducing both cluster and migraine headaches. Research studies in Europe have been encouraging. In the United States, the FDA has approved this drug for treating post aneurysm hemorrhage (bleeding). It is very expensive and for this reason is used infrequently. It may be helpful to headache patients resistant to other treatment.
Side effects can include stomach and bowel complaints, irritability, light-headedness, fatigue and menstrual discomfort. Your physician should monitor you while you are taking this medication.
This drug caused me to have extreme headaches when I was hospitalized after an anerysm coiling. So much I asked for pain killers which were of course opioids. It took me a while to figure out the extreme pain came after the nimodipene dose and went away as the nimodipene wore off. The opioids had nothing to do with it. Twice now since I’ve had such severe headaches and I’m wondering now if nimodepene caused lasting effects and searched on nimodepene & headache. I’m surprised to find it mentioned as a treatment for headache.