TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIC-TYPE PAIN AND VASCULAR-TYPE HEADACHE DUE TO GUSTATORY STIMULUS

We present a case of facial pain associated with sweet stimulus. An im mediate, electriclike, short, unilateral pain was evoked by strong swe et gustatory stimulation. This was followed 6 to 8 hours later by a bi lateral severe headache associated with bilateral tearing, rhinorrhea, periorbital swelling, flushing, and photophobia that lasted up to 2 d ays. The immediate pain that was experimentally induced with 2.5 grams of sucrose placed on the tongue could be abolished with carbamazepine . However, carbamazepine did not prevent the headache complex that app eared 6 to 8 hours later. Conversely, a trial with indomethacin abolis hed the late-onset headache, but not the immediate neuralgic-type pain . The independent nature of these pains suggests different pathophysio logical mechanisms which are discussed.