Alirocumab and Runny Nose: What Users Say

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2019

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "Had GREAT results from using the Praluent for 6 weeks but the flu-like symptoms got worse after every injection (did the every other week). My numbers were fantastic but I decided it wasn't worth it. My doctor convinced me to try it but only once a month. Had my first shot four days ago and so far only a stuffy nose. Maybe for those having issues changing to only once per month would be a good compromise."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2020

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "79-year-old male, 10 days ago had one injection of Praluent 150mg, within 24 hours, right shoulder and back pain. Constant severe pain the first week could only sleep on my back. Up many times during the night, pain so severe. Four days after, went to the primary doctor, got anti-inflammatory medicine, steroid injection, which did nothing. Seven days after the injection, severe pain in the right shoulder, went to the ER, received a cortisone injection, got minor relief for a few hours. Now, 13 days after the injection, pain in the right shoulder is still bad, with minor moments of reduced pain. Hopefully with time?? I also cannot forget runny nose, cramps in legs, very weak as well."

• GPa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2019

Alirocumab for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I am three shots in or 5 weeks. Progressive muscle and joint pain. Muscle cramps. Rapid heartbeat and palpitations. Brain fog. Burning eyes. Dry nose. Stuffy nose. Hoarse voice. Horrible GERD for several days post-injection. No more for me. This stuff is horrible."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2019

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "The Praluent injections gave me a runny nose, chest muscle pain, and I would cough up little chunks of clear phlegm for a few days after every injection. Then the muscle pains and fatigue would set in until time for the next shot. Rinse and repeat. However, my cardiologist was ecstatic with my blood work. I had been on the injections for a couple of months when I got a real bad case of pneumonia and could do nothing but lay in bed and cough phlegm for 3 weeks. I went off the injections during this time. After 4 weeks of no injections, I got blood work done and it was absolutely horrible, so now, of course, I'm back on it just praying the muscle pain goes away and that I don't get pneumonia again. This is the only medication I have ever taken that I am afraid might kill me. But my cardiologist thinks it's a freaking miracle drug."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2020

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "So I have been on Praluent for a month. I was previously on Repatha doing great, however, my insurance doesn't want to pay for that and made me switch. 2nd dose now has UTI, muscle pain, and daily headaches. I go to my doctor in 2 weeks and see if I can go back to Repatha. I thought from the reviews they are the same, however, these side effects are telling otherwise. By the way, both give me a stuffy nose, but I can live with that one. The other side effects were what I had being on statins, and this is the low dose of Praluent."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2021

Alirocumab for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been on Praluent for one month and love the results. My LDL is down to 36! I have no side effects except a runny nose. My problem is that it is very difficult to press the injector. I need my husband to press it with all his might. Does anyone have that problem?"

• Gar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 14, 2020

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I'm a 71 yo Caucasian male with a diagnosis of PAD, atherosclerosis, and hyperlipidemia. I can't tolerate statins due to severe muscle cramping and was prescribed Praluent soon after it was approved by the FDA. Aside from minor leg cramping, which is controlled by ingesting a banana a day, and a runny nose for 24-48 hours after injection, my total cholesterol has dropped from 300+ to less than 100! I'm VERY pleased with its results!"

• Haz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2020

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Took Repatha for over a year, had minor side effects (runny nose only), which eventually disappeared. Then my insurance changed formularies and I had to switch to Praluent, not at all happy. Have been taking for two months, side effects include constant runny nose, fatigue, bruising, muscle pain, and pain and itching at the injection site. Would not recommend this medication. Repatha, in my opinion, is much better, unfortunately for myself, insurance will absolutely not cover Repatha."

• Bon...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 27, 2023

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "I've been taking Praluent for 5 years and have had no side effects that I could link to Praluent until now. I also have Sjögren's syndrome, which is an autoimmune condition. My liver enzymes have been elevated; my liver doctor diagnosed me with primary biliary cholangitis, but from taking a fibro scan, my liver shows to be completely healthy. The doctor says the autoimmune condition is migrating to another organ, my liver. But after looking at the side effect info on Praluent, I find there is a rare but severe side effect of elevated liver enzymes. The other more common side effect that I have is a cold (I never made the connection to Praluent). I've had a cold since June 2022, an entire year. I've also had a runny nose for 5 years since I began taking Praluent; I'm writing this review because I think anybody on Praluent should have their liver values checked. No symptoms exist, so you'd never know your liver was in trouble. It did bring down my cholesterol."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2023

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "I'm experiencing a lot of hand, shoulder, and leg cramps. My legs feel heavy going up and down stairs. I've only had two injections and am debating on taking a third, which is due today at 75 mg. The side effects are worse than the pill. Runny nose and back of throat are dry."

• Pes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 16, 2023

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "I've been using the 75 mg for about 2 years now. I have recently begun to have some upper respiratory symptoms, but am unsure if it's related to Praluent. I'm a GI next week and will know more after that. I was exposed to strong chemicals in a small space, and symptoms began after that exposure. Symptoms are hoarseness, post-nasal drip, coughing especially after eating, and occasional GERD (once or twice a month). This may not be related to Praluent, as I seemed to have no symptoms prior to that."

• Jim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2022

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "Family history of high cholesterol. Had a stent put in 2014. Can't take statins, legs lock up. Started on Repatha about 4 years ago. All numbers drastically improved. No real side effects noticed. Insurance dropped Repatha in 2020, made me switch to Praluent. Numbers still staying low and no bad side effects. Maybe some foot cramps, some lower back pain, but I'm 71, so aches and pains are expected. Stuffy nose for a few days after injection. Started on 75 mg pen every two weeks. I'm now on 150 mg injection pen every 2 weeks (300 mg monthly). My cardiologist loves this stuff and my numbers. I worry about long-term kidney or liver damage. But I don't want a heart attack either. I'm a very active 71-year-old male."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2023

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "I am on 75 ml every two weeks. After the first dose, I only experienced a very runny nose. After the second dose, I experienced some minor flu symptoms, but wasn't sure that Praluent was the cause. After the third dose, I experienced flu-like symptoms that caused a high fever and body aches, along with headaches. This one put me to bed for a day and night. I am not due for the fourth dose for another nine days. I read a couple of other reviews of the same problem where their doctors recommended they take the dose once a month, which they did and it appeared to have resolved the problem. Therefore, I am going to try the same dosage frequency and see how it goes for me. I have not been tested for cholesterol levels as yet, so I cannot report on the efficiency of the drug. I will report back after my lab tests."

• Caz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Since starting this medication, I have experienced constant mild congestion with mild coughing and a morning runny nose. Muscle spasms in my legs at night. Pain in the hamstring of the back of my left ankle while walking. Achilles tendon. I had none of these symptoms before taking this medication. Lowest dose 2 times a month. So far, I have had 6 injections. Will do a blood test in the next two weeks for results."

• KLD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2021

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Excellent. Started on 75 mg every 14 days for 3 months, lowered LDL-C 86 points. Now on 150 mg every 14 days. Will take next blood tests after 3 months. So far, I have only noticed a little stuffy nose. This is doing wonderful for me."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Been taking alirocumab for approximately 2 years. This medicine is really very effective as it helped lower my LDL levels by 50%. Used to have really bad LDL levels, but I'm glad alirocumab helped. However, one thing that I'm concerned about is the side effect. Ever since I took alirocumab, I would have a runny nose and cough. However, it is still tolerable. I hope that researchers can improve this drug by reducing such side effects. Overall, I'd give alirocumab an 8/10. Love it."

• Luv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2025

Alirocumab for High Cholesterol "I've been on Praluent 150 mg/ml every two weeks for approximately 6 months to lower my cholesterol. Was previously on statins, but the side effects for me got worse over time (muscle cramps, fatigue, brain fog). Praluent has worked well in getting my cholesterol numbers in the normal range, but I've experienced hoarseness, stuffy nose, some muscle cramps in lower legs and feet. I also have periods of strong and rapid heartbeat, and my blood pressure has been creeping up. I notice the symptoms more in the first few days after the injection, and they get better within 5 to 7 days. I'm intolerant to a lot of medications, and my statin intolerance got worse over time. I'm hoping the same is not true for Praluent. My cardiologist (who is the medical director of a prominent cardiology center in my city) said she is aware of the cramps, hoarseness, and nasal congestion as side effects, but not the rapid heartbeat or higher blood pressure. Yet I see a lot of similar reactions in these reviews."

• Gor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2024

For High Cholesterol "Have bad muscle pain in the left arm, especially at night. Inside of nostrils stays sore and builds up a snot-like material inside the nose. Sometimes have a runny nose, like a summer cold."