26th June 2023

A 70-year-old man presents with sudden left-sided facial weakness. He is an active smoker of 20 cigarettes a day

A 70-year-old man presents with sudden left-sided facial weakness. He is an active smoker of 20 cigarettes a day and has a past medical history of hypothyroidism and hyperlipidaemia for which he is on a statin. On examination, you find that he has a flattened left nasolabial fold and drooped left mouth corner. You also note a reduced palpebral fissure on the left. He can wrinkle his forehead on both sides on instruction and raise his eyebrows.

A CT head was performed that showed no obvious intracranial abnormality on CT.

What is the most appropriate initial treatment for his condition?