Galcanezumab and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Can...
• December 23, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve had chronic migraines for decades, and they have been getting more frequent and severe in recent years. I have missed so much of my life due to migraines. I started Emgality 4 months ago, and it’s been life-changing. I rarely get headaches now, and when I do, I can just take an Aleve to get rid of them, which used to do nothing for me. I do feel a little nauseous, dizzy, and have mild cramps for 24 hours after an injection, but it’s totally worth it to not get migraines for the rest of the month. I did experience some hair loss the first month when I took the loading dose, but that stopped by month two. It wasn’t enough to be noticeable."

• 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."

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

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."

• Mig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I had experienced 20-25 days of moderate to severe migraines per month for 26 months prior to trying Emgality. I tried topiramate, several blood pressure and beta blocker meds, gabapentin, duloxetine, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle modifications to little avail before finally getting insurance approval for Botox injections. While those reduced pain, they did not help relieve the symptoms of nausea and dizziness. I’ve now had 5 months of Emgality. I am down to about 15 migraine days per month, with only 6-8 days being severe enough to stay in bed. I do dread the injections-they feel like the kick of a mule and leave me bruised for about 10 days, but the pain is temporary and nothing compared to my migraines. My sense of taste has changed-sweetness has diminished, and chocolate tastes like dirt. It’s a great loss for a foodie, but having a life again makes the trade-off preferable, if also regrettable."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 27, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Emgality for a year now, and it's a 180 life changer. I had a concussion when I was 1 year old, and so my whole life I've suffered from chronic migraines. I'd miss school, throw up from them, blurry vision, and extreme pain at least 3 days a week. My whole life, I am now 26 and have been migraine-free for a year now. I have had occasional small headaches about once a month, but nothing a little Excedrin won't fix. I highly recommend this prescription. The only negative thing would be because my insurance wouldn't cover it unless I saw a neurologist, and I have had a list of at least 5 prescription meds that failed to work, so it can be a process to get it. If your insurance doesn't cover it, the med is $600 a shot, which is ridiculous. I'm just glad I have insurance."

• dan...
• April 1, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "5-6 days after my first 2 injections of Emgality, I started to experience severe vertigo/nausea. I had experienced mild vertigo on about 5 previous occasions, but each of those episodes resolved within a couple of days. After Emgality, I had days where I could only get up out of bed to use the restroom and had to hold onto the walls while I walked. I fell once and fell into walls several times. After 1½ weeks, I contacted my PCP and my neurologist. My PCP prescribed Meclizine, which was mildly helpful. Diazepam was also mildly helpful. For 3 weeks, I could not drive or do much. Any migraine relief, which was not significant, was definitely not worth it. Because I had a handful of episodes of vertigo in the previous 5+ years, my neurologist suggested I try one more injection of Emgality after my vertigo symptoms subsided. I took the next injection about 40 days after the initial dose. Within 6 hours, the vertigo symptoms flared up again. I decided not to continue with Emgality."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 5, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Side effects/adverse reactions have grown worse and last longer each time. Day of injection, feel sick and tired. Next day to a couple of days, bad head pain, nausea, and exhaustion, and start vaginal bleeding (amount comparable to heavy menses, have been cleared by an internal scan and doctor, nothing to be causing this). Each of these effects have occurred every time over the last 8 months, the only difference is some of the effects are lasting longer: nausea is up to 3 weeks, the head pain and dizziness is up to 2 weeks. The last week of the month before it’s time to treat again is a really good week. Not including my pregnancies, my entire adult life my weight has always been within a five lb. difference. Since starting Emgality, I have gained 19 pounds."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I just took my 4-month shot on 3-21. It did not work for me the first month. I still had migraines. However, no side effects. On month 2, the headaches cut way down, and those that came were pretty short in length. At the end of the 2nd month, for three days, I felt tired, dizzy, and had a migraine. By the 3rd month, no migraines, no side effects until the start of the very last week. My head was fine, but I was having nausea all day, every day and dizziness. I took the injection expecting it to stop, and it didn't. Since 3-21, I am very weak and dizzy and sick to my stomach no matter what I do. The Emgality is great on the migraines, but I am getting off of it because of the side effects."

• CoC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Received two starter injections on April 20th, 2021, and I am going to discontinue the treatment. It helps with the migraines somewhat, but the side effects are not good. I immediately became so dizzy, I had to stay in bed, and I had difficulty breathing, like someone was sitting on my chest, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as a sore throat. I also have a lasting pain in my left side near the injection site. I will find another option. It’s too bad because I was hopeful. It has caused tinnitus, a constant ringing in my ears, that I hope will subside someday. Beware of this drug; it has too many side effects for me."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Emgality for 4 months. I've suffered from migraines for my whole life (I'm 25 now). Unmediated, I have 6-7 migraines a week; I took Topamax/Topiramate and that got me down to 6-7 a month, and I was on that for around 7 years. Since starting Emgality, I've had 2 migraines. This is the best migraine med I've been on. My primary care is also on it, and she recommended it. After my first shot (a double dose), I had some nausea and full-body itching. I haven't had it since. I have injection site swelling, redness, and itchiness for about a day or two after injection. I usually do the shots in my thighs; it hurts around the same as a flu shot. Ache for less than 5 minutes after injection. I haven't had any weight gain, dizziness, or ringing in my ears as others have reported. I might be less at risk for some of the more extreme side effects due to my young age, so still do your research on how it might impact you. Based upon my experiences, I give it a ringing endorsement!"

• UPS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I took Emgality for about 5 months before I just couldn’t take the side effects any longer. Not just an 'upset stomach' but doubled over in pain and extreme nausea to the point where one day I came very close to vomiting at work in front of coworkers. Constipation followed by stool so loose I thought I might need to wear diapers. Weight gain of about 10-15 pounds. It was horrible because it took me 4 months to figure it out before finally stopping the drug altogether. Not to mention how painful the injections were. I’m not afraid of needles, and I’ve never done self-injections before, but I had to psych myself up every time I did the shot. I don’t know if it was because it needed to be refrigerated (take it out 30 minutes before injection), but I did not look forward to doing them at all. I can’t even remember how well it worked because the side effects were so horrible. Sticking with sumatriptan."

• arm...
• June 2, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I've had migraines since I was 11 years old. I've been on just about everything over the years to treat them. Five years ago, I suffered a high-level spinal cord injury, and my migraines got dramatically worse. Gained major weight on Aimovig, had issues with my period, and went off. Ajovy stopped working after a few months. Received my first Emgality dose a week ago. The day after receiving my injection, my already limited hand strength decreased to almost nothing. I use forearm crutches and keep losing my grip since receiving my injection. I'm falling non-stop, have been constipated, nauseous, had extreme pain, inflammation, issues with my blood pressure, and my migraines are still as bad as ever. This has been an insanely horrible drug for me, and I'm going to fill out the adverse forms with the FDA. It is also expensive on Medicare at over $100 an injection. If it had worked, I would keep paying; but right now, I feel like I'm paying for something that's causing me grievous harm to my body."

• NCc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "This medication has cut my migraine days in half, and they are not as bad as before starting this medication. My migraines used to be 7-9 out of 10 on the pain scale (most times requiring me to go to urgent care/ER for IV meds). Now my worst migraines are 5 out of 10. The downside of this medication is the side effects on my monthly injection day. After administration, it always causes nausea, dizziness, and a headache. I usually have to take a migraine absorptive and lay down within 30 minutes of the injection."

• Zig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have had chronic migraines for over 25 years and have tried a boatload of various types of meds. I have been using Emgality for about 10 months. It has helped decrease the severity, which my warning signs are my face goes partially numb on the right side of my face and usually nausea, which sometimes leads to severe vomiting. My migraines were generally 6 to 7 times a week, since Emgality, it has dropped to 5 to 6."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve been using Emgality for about 4 months now, and it’s been a game changer for me. I was suffering from weekly migraines that sometimes lasted up to 5 days. From my first dose, I started to see a massive improvement. Now I’ll only get one if I have a massive trigger, but even then it will only last 1 day. I still experience some nausea if I get triggered, but very little pain. My triggers are storms, too much alcohol, dehydration, and periods. My father and his mother suffered from migraines."

• mou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2022

"I began suffering headaches similar to tension headaches after receiving my Moderna booster. They were every single day for 5-6 months. I tried amitriptyline, and it did nothing. I was put on Emgality 2 months ago. After the loading dose, I had 24 hours of a serious headache and was super nauseated, with chills. Then those effects went away. After about 2 weeks, I noticed my headaches had become much more mild. I do take ADHD meds, which stifle the headaches during the day anyways, but if I don't take them or when they wear off, I notice I had no headache or it is very mild. I just took my second dose and feel nauseous again with a headache, but I anticipate it just being a 24-hour thing again. The 24 hours of crappiness is so much better than a severe tension headache every day forever. Worth it."