Does Nimodipine only work for some ME patients?
Every patient with ME has elements of decreased brain circulation. The symptoms of this depend on where the circulation defects are. If the decreased brain circulation is in the area of the hypothalamus, temperature control can be affected. If it is at the pineal gland low melatonin levels can result. Decreased circulation at the pituitary can effect levels of any of the trigger hormones to the thyroid, the adrenals, sex glands, etc. This is why some patients have adrenal atrophy, etc. Nimodipine helps return function, but it may take six months or more. Many other areas of the brain can also be affected by poor circulation including the cognitive areas, and literally every part of the brain. Ideally every genuinely ill ME patient should have an exercise and or mental activity stress test with a brain circulation spectrum scan so that the precise nature of the brain circulation defect is known. This would be the equivalent of an exercise testing ECG for angina. The nimodipine works in
