Erenumab and Bloating: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I'm a 57-year-old suffering with left-side migraine for 40 years and right-side cluster headache for 5. Either can trigger the other if not aborted quickly. I viewed the excitement from the media on this drug with skepticism and looked at the studies and was unimpressed with the results, so I did not pursue the medication. My new neurologist suggested Aimovig, and against my better judgment, I injected the drug 20 days ago. So far, I've had ZERO positive effects. Four days ago, I started having horrible bloating. Not constipated, just bloated up like a balloon in the abdomen with pain. This weekend, I had a migraine that did not respond to my previously reliable sumatriptan injection. Thankfully, the sumatriptan pill still works for the cluster attacks, but for some reason, it didn't touch the migraine. Awful result. Since there is no evidence that study non-respondents benefited from further dosing, I have no interest in pursuing this class of drugs any further."

• Oma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Many side effects for which many were not listed. Aside from muscle cramps and constipation, flu-like symptoms, sore muscles, nausea that would not go away, bloating, ... But the worst was suppression of appetite. Joints also affected, it's just so horrible for what I paid."

• Avi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I have only been on Aimovig for one month for my hemiplegic migraines that I have been suffering from for 15 years. The doctor warned me about the constipation, and that the medication could take a week or two to have effect. Mind you, I have been suffering debilitating migraines with symptoms including slurred speech, tremors, aura, pain, and tingling down one side of the body, blinding pain, increased temper, numbness of the face and tongue. For years, I was eating Excedrin Migraine like it was candy. Within a day for Aimovig, I felt clarity like I hadn't felt in years. I'm on DAY 29 and I got my first headache of the month. I am so happy I could cry. Now, full disclosure, the doctor could have used a word other than 'constipation.' There is some crazy bloating and constipation that happens for the first week. Like someone stuffed your stomach full of sausages, painful to touch, had to get off the treadmill, can't go #2 issues, that they need to work out. But I will take it."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I've just taken my 140 mg needle on the 13th of March, and that night I felt muscle spasms in my legs. I also feel bloated constantly and full. I look like I’ve gained 10 pounds in water weight since the 13th, and I feel tired and out of breath."

• Rub...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I used Aimovig for one year. I used my rescue medicine three times in 12 months and never suffered from a severe migraine in that time. It worked great to relieve my migraines, however, the constipation and abdominal bloating became intolerable. Diet changes offer minimal help. After a big meal, food feels like it doesn’t digest for hours. Reluctantly, I discontinued this medication."

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Finally off Aimovig after 4 months. No assistance with migraine prevention and terrible side effects with my stomach. Migraine attacks were more severe whilst I was on it. Did not have 5th dose of 140 mg on the 8th of June as planned. Have been sick for months - bloated, terribly constipated, irritable. Lost weight initially and now have gained weight. Saw my neurologist last week and explained my decision. She was great and suggested a break for 8 weeks and then a review of a lower 70 mg dose moving forward. She advised that it would take 8 weeks for Aimovig to leave my system and 5 weeks post last injections my stomach is finally getting back to normal. I also feel better as I had been sick for months. Have restarted Botox and will see how it goes. At least no side effects for me on Botox and Maxhalt."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Severe fatigue set in about a week after my first (and last) injection, followed by near panic attacks if I pushed myself, so having to lay low. Both physically and cognitively slow-moving slowly and some difficulty with comprehension and memory problems. Problems with losing my train of thought in conversation. Not sure if I'll be able to work until this gets out of my system. Also, constipation, bloating."

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I’ve had a decrease overall with the migraines on the 70 mg, however, I can no longer deal with the constipation, bloating, hemorrhoids, and depression. I’m trying to lose weight for another procedure. This drug works for migraines, no doubt, but these side effects are killing my stomach. Last month, toward the end of the shot, I was somewhat back to normal. Now I’m back to how it was all last month. No more for me."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I’ve been on Aimovig for a week tomorrow, and I’ve experienced itching, sore stomach, and bloating so bad. My liver has been hurting, and I just want it out of my system. My vertigo has been acting up the last two days, so I’m dizzy and nauseous. How do you get it out of your system? How long does it take to get Aimovig out of my system after one dose of 140 mg? - Answer: Estimate is 140 days (For roughly 97% to be removed from the body, the half-life is 28 days, and it takes about 5 half-lives to remove most of it, so 5 X 28 = 140 days)"

• Med...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2023

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Absolutely not. The horrific side effects are not worth the minimal relief this provides for migraines. My stomach has been in severe pain since I took my first and absolute last dose. I haven’t been able to use the bathroom in the 10 days it’s been since I took the injection. My stomach is extremely bloated, and I have never had this severe of digestive issues. I am writing this as I am deciding whether or not to go to the ER, I am in that much pain. I have missed days of work, and all I’ve been able to consume is water, rice, and vegetables. Anything else makes it 10x worse. Avoid this at all costs."

• chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 24, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I have had chronic migraine for 30 years. I am on Topamax for prevention. I have been on Aimovig for 6 months. My review is mixed. It has certainly reduced the number of full-on migraines I get a month, about in half. I still have chronic daily headache, it has not helped that at all. I do have the experience of feeling like I am going to get one and can then take a nap, or meditate, or do something that before would never work, and it does. I can also sleep them off, which I could never do before. This is all good. The side effects are not good. The constipation, bloating, and just stomach upset are horrific. I also feel a real lack of energy. I am weaning off the Topamax, as why be on more than one drug, but I do worry about being on a medication with so few long-term studies. Hope we don't all grow three heads in 10 years!"

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2024

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Took 70 mg dose for 1.5 years. It effectively reduced my chronic migraine symptoms with no noticeable side effects. Then it seemed to stop working, so I went up to 140 mg dose and started Botox injections too. Within a month, my GI tract went haywire and I experienced pain, bloating, cramping, early satiety, anorexia, nausea, and reduced frequency of BMs that were hard and painful. Given reports of severe constipation, I suspected the Aimovig and stopped taking it. That was the middle of last year and I'm STILL dealing with GI pain and dysfunction. The low FODMAP diet is the only thing that has helped. Testing ordered by the GI doc was positive for SIBO (high methane) last month and I did a course of antibiotics. It helped some, but whenever I try eating not low FODMAP, I pay dearly. I didn’t have any of these gut issues before taking the 140 mg dose. My theory is blockage of CGRP receptors allowed colon microbes to migrate into my small intestine and wreak havoc. I regret taking Aimovig."

• RLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I've taken 3 injections and gained 20 lbs since starting! I always feel bloated and I'm so tired all the time. I've had memory loss from other migraine medications, but it's been significant in the last 3 months. I'm still getting headaches almost daily, and the worst lasted 9 days."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2022

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I was started on the 140 mg injection. No side effects other than severe constipation for the first two weeks. Week three, a huge range of side effects kicked in. Gripping around the back of my neck/base of my skull, causing stiffness and popping/creaking when I turned my head. Extreme fatigue and breathlessness. Dizziness when standing up. Serious tremor in my hands and shakiness in my legs when standing. My vision was adversely affected. Abdominal pain and a bloated feeling. Panic attacks. Pain across lower back around my kidneys. I started to retain water and put on weight due to this. Pronounced whine in my ears. Inability to focus/concentrate. The injection made no difference to my headache, and I have refused to take the second injection as a result of the side effects of the first one."

• pjr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Three weeks ago, I had my first injection of 70 mg. This week is 'migraine week' (my period), and this week is the first time I've had any headache. I think the Aimovig is reducing my migraines, but I have put on 5 pounds in those three weeks -- despite exercising more and eating my daily veggie/greens salad for dinner, intentionally trying to lose a few pounds for our upcoming vacation. I am so bloated I look like I'm 5 months pregnant. I'm going to see my general practitioner in a couple of weeks for my annual check-up, and if he finds no other insidious causes of this bloating and weight gain, I'm planning to go off the Aimovig. My last resort to get rid of the migraines is Botox."

• Par...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I had the first two shots of Aimovig three weeks ago. No significant reduction in daily headache or migraine attacks, and in fact, migraine attacks are more severe than pre-Aimovig. Side effects for me include a very upset stomach all the time. I go from being constipated and bloated to having constant pains in my stomach. My sleeping has been affected, and I am waking up multiple times during the night. I am due for the next 140 mg dose next Friday, so I will continue on the trial here in Australia for three months and then review how things go."

• Ben...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Aimovig (70 mg) 1 shot for 7 months now. First 5 months, migraine-free. At the 6-month shot, I had the worst migraine about 4 days after my shot, and it was so bad I thought I was gonna have a stroke. At month 7, 4 days after my shot, I had the worst vertigo, I couldn't move my head or walk for days. I have had horrible bloating and constipation, and it caused me to have a diverticulitis flare-up. I'm done with this medication. I also noticed my shoulder has been sore for 2 months now, like I pulled a muscle, and it's probably related to this medication since I notice people have reported muscle pain because I didn't do anything strenuous prior."

• Sva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I immediately felt bloated and had constipation. I was given this as migraine prevention, though I have stenosis, so it doesn’t impact me the same. It has helped with traditional migraines, but be sure to be prepared for the persistent constipation."

• Lad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Aimovig for about a year. I was previously disabled with migraines, having 15+ days a month of severe, debilitating headaches, vomiting/diarrhea every 15 minutes on the hour for 5-7 days at a time, leading to severe dehydration/electrolyte imbalance. Since starting the 140 mg injections monthly, I have my life back. I still get migraines, but not severe and very easy to control with dihydroergotamine nasal spray. To alleviate the GI symptoms, I have gone gluten-free, so no more abdominal bloating. Aimovig is not for the occasional migraine sufferer and should be reserved only for those who are totally disabled by it."

• aim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2021

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "I received my first dose of Aimovig in 2020. (three doses of 70 mg). I immediately developed constipation, itching, muscle aches, shortness of breath, bloating, and many other problems I had never had before. My migraine remained unchanged, up to 5 times per week. For the first three months, I tried to speed up digestion with laxatives. After at least three months, the laxatives no longer worked. I stopped eating and landed in the emergency department of the hospital. I was in the hospital for nine days. Investigations in almost all organs showed a slight deviation from normal. After colonoscopy, it was found to be a functional bowel defect. They discharged me with a diagnosis but no therapy because they didn’t know how to treat it. Since I was taking the dose for three months, I consoled myself that one day the drug would be eliminated from the body, it didn’t. I still have a malfunctioning bowel, in short, I am seriously ill with the same migraines."

• Cur...
• August 3, 2021

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Aimovig has been a miracle for me, going from 18 migraines a month down to 1 or 2. I do have side effects, though, which include bloating, weight gain around my midsection, depression right after the injection, and insomnia."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 21, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Aimovig since 2018, and when I first started, I thought it was the best thing ever. I have suffered from chronic migraines since I was about 15 (now almost 24). I went from 7-10 migraine days a month to almost 0! I’ve always had GI issues, so when I became constipated, my neurologist swore it wasn’t from Aimovig, and I believed him. I now suffer from severe constipation, bloat, nausea, and extreme fatigue. I didn’t think any of these side effects could be from Aimovig until seeing other people's reviews about it. Honestly, I’d rather deal with stomach issues than debilitating migraines that would keep me in bed for days, so I don’t plan to stop taking this medication any time soon."

• Gar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2024

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "Aimovig only lasts about 3 weeks out of the month and has side effects that are annoying. Constipation, dizziness when lying down, muscle cramps, and some fatigue. Does seem to make the gastrointestinal tract more swollen, and bloating is an issue. But these side effects are manageable, and the benefits outweigh the risks, especially for people with severe migraines."

• imo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2019

Erenumab for Migraine Prevention "It reduced my migraines, but it caused severe constipation and bloating. I'd rather have migraines than severe constipation."