Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

Hello. 4 years ago, started losing eyesight in my rt. Eye for temporarily, then returns after 4 or so minutes and also jaw pain when chewing. My doc sent me to hospital for a diagnosis. However since I did not have headaches, hosp. Doc said was probably TMJ for jaw and migraine head ache for eye. Fortunately my own doc thought I should have had a biopsy, and a few months later that was done at another hospital, confirming CSA. I was put on 60 Millagrams of prednisone and a month later methotrexate was added. After 3 months lowered to 50 Mil. Then slowly lowered next 4 years until now on 1/2 Mil. I was given blood tests every 6 weeks until last summer. Now I get blood tests every 12 weeks. I still have my eyesight and have not had any temporary loss of eyesight in 4 years. And no jaw pain. Next week I go on 1/2 milligram of prednisone every other week, then doc said we will work on getting off the methotrexate. I was 77 when I got GCA, and I am now 82. So hang in there. I have visited with a few others on mayo conn., and the hard part seems to be getting th correct diagnosis. Then it seems like most of us get over this thing. But it takes awhile. Most seem to be well in 2 years or so. Diana

I meant to say 1/2 milligram every other day.

Looking for input on Giant Cell or Temporal Arteritis. Was diagnosed finally at the beginning of Sept. and am on Prednisone. I still feel awful! 24/7 pounding headache, fatigue, jaw discomfort and neck pain. Will be travelling very soon and am concerned.

I have only GCA which causes no symptoms. It was found during open heart surgery at Mayo in 2016. For GCA, I have been on prednisone and methotrexate. Tapered off the prednisone but continue to take methotrexate. Luckily , I have had little to no side effects from either med. I do not have temporal arthritis which does cause symptoms. However, the meds are similar. The meds seem to take care of any symptoms rather quickly. I hope the best for you. Just want you to know that life can still be the same even with these two diseases.

Nice message. Yes it is aggravating but not debilitating to have this condition. I only have temporal Arteritis thank goodness and not GCA. Been on prednisone foe several years . So glad it s something that can be treated.

My understanding is that t
Temporal Arteritis and Giant Cell Arteritis are the same. Please explain the difference. .

@geniecm - From the Mayo page - "Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries. Most often, it affects the arteries in your head, especially those in your temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis is sometimes called temporal arteritis."

Mayo Clinic - Giant Cell Arteritis
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758

Thank you, John. It is exactly as I thought a d GCA stands for. Giant Cell Arteritis. I was relieved of body pains after starting on 50 mgs of Prednisone but the throbbing headache, jaw and neck pain remain.

It is my understanding with temporal, you have pain in your temples, headaches jaw pain,and other aches. For GCA, I had no symptoms and it just means that the cells are large. My GCA was discovered during surgery and before that I was totally unaware I had anything. John Bishop can probably explain this better.

Also the sed rate is monitored plus a biopsy Lida was done with me. CRP is also monitored. That s how I go up and down with prednisone.