Ajovy for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• Ave...
• June 29, 2020

"I’ve been taking Ajovy for almost 2 years. I’m stopping because although it mostly got rid of my daily headaches (Hemicrania Continua), I’ve gained 17 pounds. I have circulation issues in my legs, knees, feet, and hands. Also, it causes more anxiety and exhaustion. So, I’ve decided to take myself off. I guess there’s always pros and cons to all medications, but these side effects are really upsetting. I'm sad because the shots really got rid of my headache. By the way, I’m a female in my 50s."

• Key...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2023

"The Ajovy shot caused every single joint in my body to stiffen, swell, and become inflamed. Ankles, wrists, fingers. My entire back and every single disk from my neck down to my tailbone seemed swollen and inflamed. Just to touch my spine seemed like it was on fire. The pain became unbelievable. I have never had pain like this before in my life. I have spasms that go down my legs and arms. It is now April 18th, and my arms feel like dead weight. I have to perform my job duties like this. The coordination in my hands has diminished quite a bit. I am concerned that this shot has caused permanent damage. I belong to a migraine support group on FB and found another person who took her second Ajovy shot who is having the same symptoms as I am. I live in constant chronic pain daily now. This medication needs to be pulled off the market immediately."

• Amy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2019

"I've been suffering with migraines since the age of 10. I'm now 36. My first Ajovy injection was in November 2018. I feel like it has cut down my migraines a lot. But every time I inject Ajovy, I feel extremely tired and dizzy for a couple of weeks following the injection. Also, I feel like I'm losing hair and gaining a little weight. I haven't changed my physical activity or eating habits. Is anyone else experiencing this? I tried to tell my Neurologist, but he says there's no way Ajovy is causing this because these are not side effects listed by the company."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2023

"I got a sample of Emgality from my neurologist and took it. Thanks to that, I was able to stop taking my daily dose of ibuprofen and had only 2 migraines that month. I had zero bad reactions. The insurance did not approve the Emgality, so the Dr. sent Ajovy. Within 12 hours of taking the first shot of Ajovy, I had a panic attack that lasted days and was put on a higher dose of my anxiety meds and took Xanax daily for a week. My neurologist said it couldn’t be the Ajovy because anxiety is not a common side effect. So I took it again this month and have had the same reaction, even though I am on more anxiety meds and Xanax. I am so upset I am crying, and I feel like I’m doing everything wrong. I am borderline suicidal from this medication. This needs to be listed in the side effects due to the number of people I see here. I told my neurologist I need something else, and I’m going to see if the nurses will help me appeal the decision on the Emgality because it worked."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2020

"Has anyone else experienced nausea so bad that has been going on for over a month. Seriously lost my appetite. Vertigo so bad that it wakes me in the middle of the night several times of spinning with no movements. Anxiety I have never experienced. 3 injections in and I’m done!"

• MBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2021

"I started Ajovy 2 months ago - I have done 2 injections. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why I was so dizzy all the time since dizzy was not listed in the side effects. Ajovy helped with my migraines, but I always felt a little off. This site was very helpful for me to realize it is the Ajovy causing the dizziness, not me going crazy - and I will not do another injection again."

• Rus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2019

"I have been taking Ajovy for 8 months now and it’s a mixed bag of results. I have had daily headaches since I was a teen, along with migraines 2-3 times a month. I tried Botox but it had no effect. I was on Topamax for ages but still woke up daily with a headache. The first Ajovy injection was like a miracle! My daily headaches were 90% gone. And zero breakthrough migraines. About 3 months in, I started having bloating and noticed a steady increase in my weight even though my diet and exercise hadn’t changed. I felt so bad that I went to my GYN and was checked for ovarian cancer. Thank goodness that was negative. The bloating has since resolved, but not the weight gain. I’ve now gained 20 pounds and I’m done with Ajovy. I will go back to Topamax and work on losing these pounds."

• MGr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 29, 2019

"I inherited mind-blowing migraines from my grandmother. Since I was 16, I have had 2 a week that leave me helpless in the ER or suffering for 20 hours straight at home. I got tired of taking Imitrex and other harsh medications and refused taking beta-blockers for prevention. I had to push my Neuro to try Ajovy, almost like he didn't believe in it. For me to go online and post about anything, it has to be life-changing. Ajovy has completely removed my migraines. In 7 months of injections, I have yet to get one single migraine. I have pushed my boundaries with all my triggers to test the drug and to my surprise, I can now drink alcohol, eat chocolate, and anything else under the sun. I really got my life back and even basic menstrual headaches are very mild and managed with Advil. Whoever invented this drug should be proud. This was the best decision I have ever made."

• MsP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2020

"My husband injected my dose of Ajovy 3 days ago. It’s a tiny insulin-sized needle. Easy to give in the stomach. That night I had very bad angina. I didn’t sleep, and if I did doze off, it felt like I fainted in my sleep. Would wake up thinking it was the end. Later the next day, all faded, and I was fine. Until that night, and a migraine set in. Day 3 I can’t get rid of it. Fioricet and Advil and Nurtec are all weak against this strong pain. I’m laying here absolutely miserable. My migraines are excruciating with this feeling of exploding brains if I dare move, and sounds are like knives. I was at least hoping for lessening severity. Didn’t happen."

• Don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 1, 2020

"I was on the Ajovy shot for 11 months. It ABSOLUTELY got rid of my migraines (went from 15 migraines a month to less than 1 a month). BUT I gained 20 pounds, not sure if it is from the Ajovy or from going off the Topamax, or both. And the scariest part of all was that on multiple occasions, my neck would seize up and I would lose range of motion... it was like the migraine was “stuck” in my neck. I had to go for physical therapy. It was there that my PT suggested going off the Ajovy and trying to address the mechanical (cervicogenic) issues that were perhaps causing the migraines. With regular PT treatment and stretching, I am almost migraine-free again! No more scary neck issues. And I don’t have to worry about any long-term unknown side effects from Ajovy."

• GG2...
• June 21, 2021

"I have been a migraine sufferer for 17 years, with 3-4 migraines a week. I was hesitant to try Ajovy, my doctor indicated no side effects, which is why I gave it a go! The first month... godsend, not 1 migraine, so I thought I found my holy grail. However, I could not figure out why I seemingly gained 7 pounds in 1 month. After reading this blog, the weight gain is real! Unfortunately, I just administered my second and last injection today. I wish I had read this blog sooner. Thank you, everyone!"

• Mea...
• August 19, 2019

"I started Ajovy in 2/2019 for migraine prevention. I have had severe migraines since I was 16, 2-4 times a week. I used to wake up with a headache every day, and I am now 55 years old. I am also on Lamictal, Topamax, magnesium, and Botox to keep me out of the ER. Despite all these medications, I still experienced daily headaches. When I initially started Ajovy, it was a miracle! No migraines in 7 months. However, recently, I experienced a major depression episode. I have had depression since I was 9 years old, but it has been well-controlled. Two weeks ago, I had a severe panic attack, which was a first for me. It led me to a dark and scary place in my mind, and my adult daughter had to take me to the ER, where I was put on a suicide watch for several hours. This has never happened to me before. My psychiatrist has upped my meds, and now I really suspect Ajovy. I plan to discuss this with my neurologist today."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

"I have been on Ajovy monthly injections for five months. It did help with the migraines at first, but I have gained almost 25 lbs, my blood pressure is extremely high when it used to be low, and I have had bleeding between periods. I am going off of it because the side effects are worse than the migraines."

• SMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2020

"Took first shot 5/1/2020. Within two weeks, I had extreme heart palpitations, high blood pressure (I normally have low blood pressure), shortness of breath, and stomach issues. I actually called 911 because I thought I was having a heart attack. I don’t have a history of cardiac problems at all. I was advised by the cardiologist who saw me in the hospital not to take it anymore. It didn’t help my chronic daily migraine anyway."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2019

"I will start with my headache days, which were slashed from about 15 to 2-3, so that's awesome. Nothing else had ever worked for prevention. However, my pants were instantly tighter after starting Ajovy, but I hadn't gained weight. It's like I'm retaining water from the waist down. I now have HORRIBLE anxiety, waking up in panic attacks. That's when I sleep. I've had insomnia since I started 3 months ago, and nothing will help me sleep. I hate to stop the only thing that's worked for prevention, but I can't keep this up."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

"I have suffered from migraines since childhood. I am 51 and recently started trying different medications for prevention. I took Nortriptyline, Topomax, Emgality, and Ajovy. My biggest issue has been severe constipation, which was solving one problem for another. I usually read and research meds, but I didn't for this one. I took the injection, and within hours, started to feel disoriented and dizzy. I woke the next morning feeling the same, and an hour later, I had a panic attack with rapid heart, chest tightening, uncontrollable crying, and shakes. This came in waves for the next hour, which led me to the ER. It was after I started reading the reviews and saw the percentage of people that had success was lower than all the negative reviews. It's been 2 days, and I am on vertigo meds and Xanax to help manage until this leaves my body. I can't drive due to the dizziness, and I feel out of control with my mind and emotions. After this experience, I will only take tablets. This was worse than any migraine."

• Gur...
• February 18, 2019

"39-year-old female with 22 years of chronic migraines, tried almost every preventative on the market, including Botox, with no success. Abortives stopped working. In the last 2 years, I started getting daily chronic headaches that turned into migraines, which sometimes would last a week, nothing killed it. I did my first Ajovy shot on January 17th, 2019, and 5 days later, the chronic insomnia and chronic severe IBS-D I have had for years stopped completely. I love being able to sleep at night, but holy cow-I am exhausted all the time now. All I want to do is sleep. Before Ajovy, I was super regimented about my caffeine intake, but now I'm chugging a pot of coffee a day just to make it to 8 pm. I have mixed feelings about Ajovy because, while my headaches have 85% disappeared about 3 weeks after doing the first shot, I am beyond exhausted and am actually having to take magnesium to make my bowels move. If this drug slows gut motility and causes fatigue, what else does it do that they failed to list as a side effect?"

• Jud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2019

"At first, I felt like this was a miracle and I was having way fewer headaches and significantly less severe. In recent months, my symptoms have changed significantly and are more frequent. Rather than starting up the side of my neck, I start feeling nauseous and/or agitated. I am also having a lot more visual and word recall disturbance but not pain. It often takes me a few days until I figure out that I have a migraine as it is manifesting so differently. Then, when I do take an Imitrex and some Advil, it does go away. Wondering if others have experienced this kind of change in how their headaches manifest?"

• diz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2022

"The neurologist put me on a monthly Ajovy injection after many other meds failed. Was told the main side effects would be soreness at the injection site and a bit of nausea. The experience has been terrible for me. Made me extremely nauseous, dizzy, weak, exhausted, and I've been having tons of pain in my legs, they ache and hurt all the time, even when I'm doing nothing. Leg pain has been so bad it hurts just walking around my home. The doctor did a spine MRI to rule out MS and I'm being referred to a rheumatologist to check for fibro or arthritis. They downplay the side effects, but Ajovy has been awful for me. I'm discontinuing and pursuing Botox."

• sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2019

"I took Ajovy monthly for 3 months. I've had chronic migraine (inherited) for 35 years, with 25 migraines/month when I'm not on a preventive, 15-17 with a preventive (current preventive is duloxetine). Ajovy and duloxetine interacted to cause quite a few SEs, which seemed to be duloxetine SEs amplified/potentiated. The deal breaker SE was such extreme fatigue-nearly impossible to wake up after 8 hrs sleep. Sleep was so deep it was actually scary. Almost passed out (back into sleep) daily in the shower, etc. No improvement in severity, duration, or frequency of migraines. Quit Ajovy and SEs went away. Just keep in mind: many long-term SEs of this drug and interactions with other drugs are still unknown. Just keep in mind: CGRP affects many processes in the body, and inhibiting it may not be wise."

• Jen...
• September 7, 2019

"I suffered from chronic migraines and cluster migraines. I would have around only 7 headache-free days a month. It was unbearable. I tried so many different medications and shots over the years. This medication gave me my life back. The first month, I saw a 50% reduction, and the second month it’s even better than that. When I do have a headache now, it’s more like a dull ache instead of that intense pain. I still have some nausea with my headaches when I get them, but again, the improvement is huge. I'm not actively vomiting anymore. All in all, I rate this a 10. It’s easy to use and is working for me beautifully. This is only my 3rd month, and I'm using it monthly vs quarterly, so I know that it’s most likely still going to improve. Either way, I can work and spend time enjoying life with my kids again. I'm very happy."

• Ttb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2019

"I started with Aimovig, which worked, migraine episodes decreased, but when I did have one, I ended up in the ER due to pain. My Imitrex did not budge the pain. I've been to the ER for a migraine once before in 30 years. I was also bruising on Aimovig, so my neuro changed me to Ajovy. It works too, migraines have decreased, but I cannot stay awake. I am getting sores and abscesses which I have never had before, that won't heal or take very long to heal. I recently had blood drawn which shows it is also affecting my immune system. My PCP told me to not take these types of medications anymore, and I agree. Sounds like these need more testing done. I hope all these issues go away soon. This is horrible!"

• Jon...
• April 14, 2021

"Was prescribed Ajovy for migraine prevention after failing a dozen other preventatives. I can honestly say it's the worst preventative drug I've ever taken. Instead of improving my migraines, it made them more frequent and more difficult to treat."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2019

"I started Ajovy about 9 months ago. This is my 3rd injection. The first 2 injections were kind of tolerable. I had about 85 percent less headaches with the first two injections, but with the 3rd injection, I've been so tired and sleepy, I can barely keep my eyes open. The back of my neck hurts. I'm dizzy and a little off balance. My head hurts more. Not sure what the problem is this time, but I think that the drug's side effects should be reviewed and retested."

• Dis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2019

"The first month on Ajovy, I was thrilled, I had gone from 15-20 headaches to 2 minor ones. I am now on month 9 and am quitting. My experiences have been too varied and a little scary. Months 5 and 6 produced severe neck pain 6 days after the injection. I experienced joint pain in my knees and hips. I have put on weight. And in the last three weeks, my hair has begun falling out. I am finished. The headache severity has lessened, but at what 'future' unknown expense?"