Calcium's uncertain headache impactReversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Secondary to Escitalopram.
We explored the connection between calcium treatment and headaches, particularly in patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). In this case, we observed a healthy young woman who had been using escitalopram for a long time. She presented with bilateral neurological deficits, and after treatment with intra-arterial calcium channel blockers, her symptoms improved significantly.
However, it’s important to note that while calcium channel blockers were administered, the study does not specifically isolate calcium’s effects on headache relief. This combination of treatments makes it challenging to understand how much calcium alone contributes to alleviating headache symptoms, if at all.
As we considered the overall findings, it became clear that while calcium channel blockers can lead to symptom improvement in RCVS, the direct impact of calcium on headaches remains uncertain. Therefore, individuals experiencing thunderclap headaches, especially those on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, should consider RCVS as a possible diagnosis, but we cannot definitively conclude that calcium treatment is effective for headaches based on this case alone.
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