Migraines have been dominating my life for ever but so much worse in the last 4-5 years when painkillers have been no use. After trying many preventatives that failed and having short lived success with keto for migraine I am now awaiting my first batch of aimovig injections next week. I'm hopeful, as usual, that this new approach to preventing the migraines will succeed. I'm desperate for them to work before the triptans stop working again.
Does anyone have positive experiences of taking aimovig and are there any tips/things to look out for?
Thanks
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I was on Ajovy (fremanezumab) for 2 years and Emgality (Galcanezumab) for 3 months. Ajovy and Aimovig are considered to be very similar. I had a really good year the first year and then sadly it gradually stopped working. Triptans had also stopped working on me, but even when they worked I was still stubbornly chronic.I would say the only the side effect to watch out for is worsening IBS. I don't know that it would create IBS but it did impact mine. I also developed a worsening of my Overactive Bladder but we don't know if that was actually caused by being on the contraceptive pill. We will test the theory when hopefully Rigmengepant gets approval in the autumn.
It wasn't that successful for me but my neurologist had patients who had miraculous responses to the CGRP so you never know you might be one of those!
The first 2 months for me were like a miracle. I have a long history of migraine and have tried everything. I am currently having a bad time but my consultant is confident it is just a blip and I very much hope so. For me there are almost no side effects - maybe a bit of hair loss and at the beginning a bit of constipation. I really hope it works for you. If you have any specific questions I'm happy to respond.
switched to Ajovy and has been a life saver. Still a few bad days but triptans seem to work more quickly. Been taking the injections just under a year. Good luck. Stay positive.
Hi - I'm hoping it will be for me too! A year of success sounds amazing - Currently always wondering if the triptans will give up on me unless a manage a break from them.
I have been on Aimovig for 3 years 4 months and it has been fantastic. If you get chance to listen to the review by the Migraine Trust of these drugs they do say that benefits get better with time and I am lucky enough to have had that on the NHS, not everybody gets that. You may get instant benefits like I did but they weren’t stellar but definitely better than without, but the longer you are on it the better it gets. I now rarely have a migraine and when I do the intensity is much reduced, a Sumatriptan gets rid easy. My big suggestion is to up your fibre intake and drink lots of water now before you start as the constipation is the hardest thing to manage, the week after your injection is hardest and you may need to take some Senna for a few days but week 2,3,4 are usually ok if you eat lots of fibre 👍 I hope it works for you. Cheers
Like you, migraine has controlled my life for about 17 years. I’ve tried all of the preventative drugs and also GONI and Botox. I’ve had Ajovy and Aimovig and currently on the recommended 3 month treatment break from CGRP. I must say that it is now evident that they work as I’m back to being chronic and unmanageable. Contacted my migraine nurse to re start again asap!! Good luck with your treatment! X
I’ve been on Ajovy for a year now & it hasn’t been very effective sadly. I am currently getting daily attacks & living on triptans which I know is not ideal but I have to function. I have one more injection of Ajovy & then my consultant is switching me to Aimovig. I’ll be really interested to see how you get on. Really hope it works for you. 🙏.
Ajovy changed my life. I had chronic migraine and lived a life that riddled with pain on a daily basis. I was on the Ajovy trial before it was released for use and it worked instantly for me. I then stayed on it for another 18 months with excellent results and no side effects. If you get a change, give it a try. I can't recommend it enough.
Wow that’s amazing. So pleased for you. How long did it take for it to start to help? I’ve read that it can take a month or more- is that your experience?
Aimovig improved my chronic migraine by 95%, as well as the tension h/a that eventually turned into migraines. It greatly reduced my use of triptans, and it made my menstrual-type migraines respond to triptans where they wouldn’t before. I hope you have great success with it. Insurance required me to switch to Ajovy but it isn’t quite as good. I’m going to talk to my doctor about what we need to do to get back to Aimovig.
that’s great to hear. The menstrual migraines are so hard to shift. I hope it works for me like it did for you. Did it take long for it to start working?
It started working fairly quickly. Within a month I was cautiously optimistic and after two months I was convinced. I’m back on Aimovig now - injected two weeks ago - and I haven’t had to take even one triptan. I hope you are doing well.
Hopefully by now you have tried and tested Aimovig...
I have been on this medication for approximately 6 months, luckily on the NHS. Prior to that, I had tried a large number of preventative options from medication to injections such as nerve blocks, multi cranial nerve block and botox. Unfortunately for me, I have been resistant to all.
I was asked to do a headache diary for first 4 months and I'd say there was a 43% improvement in my headaches. The trouble with me is that I have complex conditions, so not always able to tell one headache/ migraine from another. I was getting 65 headaches a month, excluding Sunct.
Overall, Aimovig has been a great help, however I do feel as if I'm starting to get used to it, and it's effectiveness is wearing off. That said, I haven't had a period without.
One thing to note that there is a huge issue with constipation and bladder control, but the benefits of being in less pain makes it worthwhile.
I tried injectable aimvoig. Never helped me. It gave me extreme constipation and horrible joint pain. Have you tried Summatriptan? It works well for me. Good luck, God Bless.
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