pain in temple, worried about GCA

[Predderman2020]

Pmr since 2020. 4-5 mgs at present. I have had pain in my head over 3 weeks. Notably on one side over my temple. Headaches are bad but do respond to Sumatryptan. Is it normal for the pain to go down with that drug. I feel I should see an Opthamologist asap. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

According to the Mayo website, sumatriptan only works for the pain of migraine headaches

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple....

However - there are a couple of references I found where it works in GCA to relieve pain:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

But yes - you need to see a doctor of some sort and possibly present them with that link to encourage closer examination.

[Predderman2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you - I gave him the link - I hope I get some sense out of him. Seeing him later today. Joys of living in Greece - v fast!

[Predderman2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Saw him - and he feels that, in the event of vision disrupting, I should ensure I have a supply to the level of .7mgs per Kg of weight = 60 mgs - per day - for 3 days initially, and seek help asap. He sent me for a blood test and I await answers. Quite enlightened, I thought, if not fantastically comforting.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Predderman2020]

I'm impressed.

[Predderman2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with PMRpro you do need to to get it checked-but would think it’s more likely to be migraine rather than GCA. But always wise to make sure.

[Predderman2020 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks, DL - off to see an Optamologist as first stage.