Galcanezumab and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2022

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "I took Emgality 2.5 weeks ago. I immediately had poor sleep - feeling hot while sleeping, drenching night sweats, and insomnia. During the day, the headaches were milder, but I still had to take Relpax, which isn't great given Emgality seems to predispose to strokes. I noticed when I drank small amounts of alcohol over the holidays, the sleep is even worse; on top of the symptoms above, I wake up with a headache, nausea, anxiety, and buzzing in my head. There is something wrong with this drug. Clearly, the side effects are not properly reported. I'm thankful for this site since I knew something was wrong. I won't continue with it."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2024

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "I average 7-13 migraines a month. I can never go a whole week without getting one. This number would be higher if I did not go to the ER to break my cycle. Just last week I got my 1st treatment of Emgality, 2 shots. My neurologist said it could take a month or 2 weeks to take effect. From day one, I felt better. Those of you that have migraines know what it means when I say I have started feeling normal, which is rare for me. I finally went a whole week without migraines. I got a migraine the 3rd day post-Emgality initial injections, but did not get one the following day, which is my pattern. I am very hopeful!! Side effects - an hour after injection, I felt a little off - anxiety, felt like my pulse was higher, but it went away after an hour. Since then, no other side effects."

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2021

Galcanezumab for Cluster Headaches "After 20 years of suffering with the devastating pain of cluster headaches, I finally found something that I can rely on and have a normal life during this 7 to 8 weeks duration of the cycle. I am very sensitive to medications, and I did not have a single side effect. I’ve used it twice. The last cycle I thought it gave me horrible insomnia and anxiety, but I realize that those are proper from cluster headaches, and this year I try to be objective, and I have not had any single side effect. I always feel something with any type of medication. And now, if I have a headache, I can easily knock that down with deep breathing and maybe half a triptan, which if it gets to a point of 4 out of 10, which is the maximum I reach. I even traveled overseas with the injections in a refrigerator lunch box with ice packs, and I had no issues. The injection is not painful if you know how to do it. You need to follow the instructions correctly and make sure you have a 45° angle when injecting it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "Tuesday, August 31, 2021. 25-year-old male. Beware of side effects. Emgality 120 mg. This medication gave me tinnitus, gastric pain, general weakness, and anxiety. The first few months were great, but I regret ever taking this medication. I'd rather have life with the headaches before taking this. Either they chose not to tell us the side effects, or they are not aware. Do not take this medication."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "Awful. It only takes the pain part to 90% and leaves all the other migraine symptoms. And that might be alright if it weren't for side effects. It isn't good for Basilar type because of increased stroke risk. It can take a week or two to manifest Emgality side effect symptoms, so far increasing and near debilitating muscle and joint pain, inflammation of the edge of my eyelids, injection site reactions (these took a week to show up), ever-present dizziness, loud tinnitus, increased anxiety. This is awful stuff."

• EDC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Emgality for 3 months, and my daily migraines went away, with the exception of 4 during this time period. I was put on Emgality after most medications did not work, or I experienced unbearable side effects. Here’s the problem... I am experiencing the absolute worst side effects from Emgality. They are as follows: excessive weight gain (22 lbs), bloating, swollen feet, lips and hands, stomach pain, hot flashes, anxiety, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, stuffy nose, vision changes, hot flashes, joint pain, and itchy skin. These all developed during the course of 3 months. Regarding the weight gain, it is in my abdomen and butt. I feel terrible, like I’m one big hormone. My Dr. assured me Emgality has no side effects, and I may be having a rare reaction. I have to wait 5 months to be out of my system. Back to square one. I would run from Emgality. I feel like I’ve been poisoned!"

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2023

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "So, I have been dealing with migraines accompanied by visual auras since I was 12 years old. Now, at 44, I take migraine medication as needed. Recently, I mustered up the courage to try a preventive medicine for migraines, specifically Emgality. I wished I hadn't. This medication has caused me severe anxiety, which persists throughout the day, from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. It's incredibly challenging to function when feeling constantly on edge, as if in fight-or-flight mode. I started with the two-loading dose in March, and in April, I experienced bad anxiety for a solid two weeks. It eventually calmed down, only to return in full force throughout the entire month of May. I'm still struggling with it now. Additionally, I've noticed a tremor in my neck and hands at times. While Emgality has helped reduce my migraines, I would choose to deal with migraines over the way this medication has made me feel. I pray that this medication exits my system quickly so I can feel normal again. I am not a fan of this treatment and strongly advise patients against trying it. It's truly terrible. Best wishes to everyone dealing with similar challenges."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2022

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "This migraine medication is the worst! I was prescribed this medication, and I took the injections in March 2020. The side effects from this medicine lasted for about 6 months. My neurologist didn’t believe that my side effects were from this medicine. I have terrible ringing in the ears, severe depression, and anxiety. I also experienced weight loss of about 40 pounds from not having any appetite to eat for all these months (this might be good for some people looking to lose weight, but the other side effects aren’t worth the weight loss). I have never experienced anything like this. My neurologist just didn’t care to listen to my side effects and told me that side effects from this drug should be very minimal. I didn’t get minimal side effects. Please do your research if you are prescribed this drug. I don’t want anyone going through what I went through."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "Three injections have not relieved in any way my chronic, daily migraines. Furthermore, Emgality makes me very depressive and anxious, and therefore it would be impossible for me to use this type of medication again. BEWARE: depression and anxiety are not officially listed as side effects for this medication. But in fact, they are among the side effects: careful searches on the web do lead to a small number of websites underlining the existence of these important side effects, and quite a number of personal testimonies quite clearly confirm it."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "I took Emgality for 4 months. Within a week, my migraines were already improving. After 2 weeks in, I started getting severe stomach pains. My doctor told me to take Gas-X daily, and it seemed to help, so I continued with the injection. After taking the injection the 4th month, I threw up hours after and was extremely nauseous for a few days. Two weeks later, I was nauseous all day and after eating. My doctor thought it was bad acid indigestion, but I think everything is related to the injection. I also noticed I was always anxious and fearful of something being wrong with me. I have stopped taking the injection, but am still nauseous. The side effects were not worth the migraine relief, I wish I would have stopped taking it sooner."

• On ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "Emgality has worked wonders for me so far. My migraine frequency has dropped significantly. I’m in my 40s and used to have headaches 3-4 times weekly. Since starting, I’ve only had a couple of severe migraines, and other headaches don’t seem to progress. I do have injection site irritation, itching, and swelling for a few days following the injection. This localized reaction is less bothersome if the injection is done in my abdomen, I’ve learned. Many of the other side effects people have shared (joint pain, constipation, anxiety, depression) were all issues I dealt with prior to starting this, I’ve seen no change or increase in these symptoms since starting this medication."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2021

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "I only took 1 dose (loading dose or two injections) of Emgality. I know everyone is different and metabolizes/tolerates meds differently. Unfortunately, Emgality isn’t for me, and I won’t be continuing it. It’s my understanding that the half-life is 27 days and takes an additional 5 months or so to completely get out of your system. My side effects include worsening/more frequent migraines, 24/7 brain fog/dizziness (intensity varies, but dizziness is nearly like vertigo), intermittent right arm tingling, anxiety, daily crying spells, hungry but takes effort to eat, fatigue… trouble functioning pretty much. Nearly debilitating. I have had a negative sinus/head CT and brain MRI recently. I am 1 week off or 1 week due for the next dose, and I am praying for this nightmare to end and just want reassurance that things will improve. Would love to know how soon. I have reported my concerns to the Emgality company and my PCP."

• Tig...
• August 17, 2021

For Cluster Headaches "I also had good results, especially in the beginning of taking this medication. Went from 3 cluster/migraines per week to maybe two a month. However, I too have suffered with anxiety, weight gain, weird breathing difficulties (especially in the left nostril), and achy joints. I was on this for about a year, and then my insurance didn’t want to cover it, so haven’t been on it for 4 or 5 months, and I’m thinking it’s a good thing! I’m not going back on it even though I have had some more migraines. The memory challenges alone are too much to deal with (scary). I too hope this will leave my system soon."

• val...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2024

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "In my own personal experience, I have felt overall a lot better, however, with most medications, there are those not easily tolerated side effects. For me, there were a few of them. The one was constipation, so I wasn't able to drink any alcohol because it made it worse (I would get irritable bowels and uncontrollable diarrhea and extreme upset stomach). The other was chest pains that I only felt in the morning, especially after drinking coffee, and my heart would start racing, and then I would have extreme anxiety. The last and third side effect was the fatigue, omg!!! That was just draining how extremely fatigued I felt! In my own decision, I decided that I would never take this new class of medications. Everyone is different and reacts differently, and sometimes they feel the benefits (in this case, fewer migraines or frequency of them) outweigh the side effects, and for me, I would rather have the migraines, and I also am aware there isn't enough research for long-term side effects, so no thanks!"

• Nur...
• March 1, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Prescribed Emgality for migraines, post-car accident. I was told there were no side effects. The first 6 weeks were great! Migraines gone. Yeah! By the middle of the 2nd injection, the side effects started. I noticed my libido crashed, irritability and confusion were ramping up, feelings of paranoia and anxiety were starting. Within 24 hours of my 3rd injection, I broke out in hives, probably 120 of them. I was also having intense itching and a splotchy rash. By day 2, my hands had swollen to 3 inches thick, blood pressure 180/100, and oxygen stats were 88%. Currently, I am waiting for the rest of this med to clear my system. I have been to the ER twice for elevated blood pressure, 217/138. I have been on 3 different steroids, Benadryl 24 hours a day for 15 days, Atarax, and received complete cardiac workups. I am still having intense itching, my skin is hypersensitive (I have bruises and scrapes/cuts on my arms/legs). The anxiety and paranoia are getting better, but I am still having panic attacks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2019

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "Helped my migraines, but about 5 months in, started to cause horrible side effects: brain fog, severe anxiety, insomnia, etc. Please do your research before trying this drug."

• Emg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2022

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "My daughter had a first Emgality dose (2 injections the first time). For a month, no migraines, but the side effects were terrible: unexplained panic, fear, anxiety +++, weight gain."

• Emg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2022

Galcanezumab for Migraine Prevention "My daughter had a first Emgality dose (2 injections the first time). For a month, no migraines, but the side effects were terrible: unexplained panic, fear, anxiety +++, weight gain."