Galcanezumab and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "Initial 2 injections, flushed and hot the first 2 weeks. Now I'm having horrible headaches, nauseated! I take the second dose August 12, but I'm calling my neurologist Monday! Insomnia as well. None of these side effects were listed!"

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

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."

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

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."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Took 3rd dose 5 days ago, I notice after dosing I'm exhausted, have insomnia, and am depressed. Dr. wanted me to try it because I was taking Imitrex for years but was getting too many more migraines lately. The Imitrex works, no side effects at all. Emgality did prevent migraines, went from 16 pills to about four a month, but I feel like I got a COVID booster, exhausted, and body aches, and yes, constipation."

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

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."

• Ins...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "14 days of insomnia and migraine misery. Beware of this drug and “no side effects” - doctors lie! Since the first loading dose of Emgality, I have not slept more than 2 hours per night + worse migraines. It has been the worst decision, and I pray this poison will wear off in 30 days (even though it stays in your system for 4-5 months!). I never had sleep issues before this, and nothing helps - I’ve tried anti-anxiety meds and now Gabapentin. Doc has basically no further suggestions. Still running on 2 hours of sleep. I cannot believe my doctor recommended this drug also knowing that I want to get pregnant — I was very clear with him, and he never mentioned the externally long half-life of the drug - 27 days. This means Emgality is in your system for 4-5 months (I called to confirm with the drug company). Of course, the drug company, just like my doctor, claims that my insomnia is “not a commonly reported side effect.” Beware of this drug. It has caused a nightmare for me."

• Ltk...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I am a 53-year-old woman. I had bad migraines as a teen and after babies in my 20s and was on Imotrex for years. The migraines seemed better in my 30s and 40s, maybe a few a year with no Rx needed. I moved to MN, and migraines flared. I now know that the weather patterns are a big trigger. Also, menopause hormone issues were triggers. I have, in the past 3 years, been on several 'triptans' that started good and then didn't work. My doctor suggested Emgality, and March 2021 was my loading month. Things were promising for 5 months. Some trouble with sleeping and back/joint pain, but migraines were very few and not severe. August 2021 was life-changing. Terrible ringing in ears, joints on fire, speech struggles, brain fog, and migraines lasted for almost 6 weeks. My doctor convinced me that my symptoms were not related to the injection, so I was sent to an ENT for hearing tests, as well as a brain CT and MRI. Nothing showed up. So I sat in the ER 2 days after the November injection with a racing heart, couldn't breathe, the worst pain and ringing in my head, and vomited while I waited to be helped. Dangerous drug."

• Jes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 13, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "Have had chronic, severe migraines since 12 years old, am now 50. Taken everything possible for them. All three injectables have been tried, and Emgality is the easiest to deal with and has the best efficacy for me. Completely kills my motivation, gives me insomnia, almost 3/4ths of my hair fell out, I itch all the time, my nose is so stuffy, then runny, and my joints and limbs are like lead most of the time. Still, I don't want to go back to having such severe migraines almost 4 days out of the week. My neurologist swears it isn't the injection, yet I'm on nothing else. Don't know what to do."

• JVF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I'm suspicious of many of these doom and gloom comments discouraging people from trying Emgality. I'm on my 4th month and have seen dramatic improvement in my vestibular migraine symptoms. I have had a few days of poor sleep and neck/back muscle pain, but minor when offset by migraine symptom improvement. I will see how the next few months go. If the benefit isn't worth the side effects, I will try something else. But everything I've tried has a risk of side effect."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Emgality works for about 3 weeks. However, I've noticed in the last week leading up to your next injection, it's migraine after migraine. The injection itself feels like a tetanus shot and is very sore for 3 days. Here's all the side effects I have been experiencing: 1.) Weight gain 2.) Hot flashes to the extreme of sweating and soaking my clothes. 3.) Insomnia/night terrors. 4.) Joint pain. 5.) Vertigo and nausea. 6.) Constipation."

• Pie...
• February 22, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Emgality early January 2021 for migraines (8 to 10 a month) off and on for 30 years. I had also started experiencing severe cluster headaches. My doctor asked me to try Emgality; since there were no serious side effects listed, I agreed. The injection was more painful than I anticipated. My head started hurting within a day or so after injection and continued hurting every day, and some bad cluster headaches. I now have insomnia, foggy brain, and depression every day, some days worse than others. I have already gained 8 lbs since taking the Emgality. I decided not to take my second injection and found out this does not leave your body for months. This is February 21st, and I'm still experiencing these adverse effects. I wished I had not taken this medication; this has been a terrible experience. I cannot wait until this is out of my body and I feel normal again! I would not recommend taking this medicine. Good luck to all that are seeking relief from your migraines!!"

• elk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Started Emgality 5/21/21, have had 4 injections and a new delivery is coming this Tuesday, August 3rd (today is 7/29). Since using Emgality, I can't sleep. If I'm lucky enough to fall asleep for an hour or two, it's a good thing, but I wake up gasping for air, and even after I'm awake for a couple of minutes, I still have a hard time breathing, like someone is sitting on my chest. The neurologist thought maybe I had orthopnea, but I never had any breathing issues before! My GP had a chest x-ray done and an EKG, but everything showed normal. I love the fact that I don't get migraines too often anymore, but is it worth the health risk? I am now afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that I will not wake up someday! The neurologist nor my GP seem to be very concerned. What do I do? Because I don't sleep, it's affecting my everyday life! I have no energy, I get out of breath just walking from the kitchen to the living room and just don't feel like doing anything anymore."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 29, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Several side effects: palpitations, joint pain, intestinal issues, nightmares, insomnia, severe muscle pain on the side of the body where the injection occurred. I received no relief from migraines."

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

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."