When to worry about persistent headache with pituitary tumour

A pituitary tumour can affect nearby structures involved in vision and can alter hormone signals. Headache may occur alongside reduced side vision, double vision, unusual thirst or urination, tiredness, menstrual changes, sexual-function changes, or changes in body features. These symptoms have several possible causes and need clinical interpretation.

Write down the headache’s timing, location, severity, visual symptoms, vomiting, and any new hormone-related changes. A clinician may use examination, hormone testing, and imaging to assess what is happening.

Contact the endocrinology, neurology, or neurosurgical team when headache is new, worsening, persistent despite the agreed plan, or accompanied by visual or hormone-related changes. Take prescribed medicines as directed and do not change steroid or hormone treatment without medical advice.

Seek emergency care for an abrupt severe headache with vomiting, sudden visual loss or double vision, confusion, collapse, fainting, unusual sleepiness, weakness, or a seizure. These changes can require rapid assessment, so arrange emergency transport rather than driving yourself.

Ask which visual changes are urgent, whether hormone symptoms need testing, how to monitor headache, what to do if vomiting prevents medicines being taken, and which treatment changes should prompt an immediate call.