PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M S Matharu
AU  - J A van Vliet
AU  - M D Ferrari
AU  - P J Goadsby
TI  - Verapamil induced gingival enlargement in cluster headache
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp.2003.024240
DP  - 2005 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 124--127
VI  - 76
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/76/1/124.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/76/1/124.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2005 Jan 01; 76
AB  - Verapamil is an effective prophylactic treatment for cluster headaches and, therefore, is widely used. This report describes four patients with cluster headache who developed gingival enlargement after initiating treatment with verapamil. In two patients, it was possible to control this side effect adequately by optimising oral hygiene and dental plaque control. In the other two patients, lowering of the verapamil dose, in addition to optimal oral hygiene and dental plaque control, was necessary; in one patient verapamil had to be stopped completely to reverse the gingival enlargement. Doctors treating cluster headache with verapamil need to be aware of this side effect, especially as it may be preventable with good dental hygiene and dental plaque control, is reversible with reduction or cessation of verapamil, and can lead to dental loss.