Makena and Headaches: What Users Say

• Reg...
• August 24, 2015

For Premature Labor "I started Makena at week 16 after my doctor recommended it due to my history of preterm labor at 33 and 35 weeks, where my water would break for unknown reasons. I am a healthy woman, I do not drink or smoke. I took this injection for 19 weeks and experienced headaches and pain/bruising/itching at the injection site. I made it to 34 weeks, and my water broke in the morning while I was getting ready for work. 19 weeks of dealing with this pain, and not to mention the hefty price tag, and my baby is still in the NICU. Makena did not work for me!!"

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2018

For Premature Labor "Currently 35 weeks pregnant with my third child and just stopped receiving the injections. My second daughter was born at 33 weeks due to spontaneous premature rupture of membranes. I would say these shots have been effective. My side effects were present for the first 10 weeks or so, they included: pain and swelling, bruising, itchiness, headaches, and lightheadedness. My husband is active duty, and we have Tricare. Each time I called to refill a prescription, I was quoted $0 and told the medication was 100% covered by the pharmacy. Now that I am finished with the injections, the pharmacy is saying I owe thousands, and there is a pending investigation to see if I will be responsible for payment or not. Either way, I'm glad I did these injections because no price is worth risking your child's health. So overall, this was a great and effective medicine with mild side effects, but if you go through Accredo Pharmacy, you will likely be scammed."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2017

For Premature Labor "My oldest was born at 24 weeks due to unexplained preterm labor. We spent 112 days in the NICU with him, and he is wonderfully thriving now. When discussing a sibling, we reviewed all the risks with our doctor. She recommended Makena. We were lucky to have my insurance approve the cost without a fight. Guess they weighed the cost of a lengthy NICU stay against the cost of the shots. We started Makena at 16 weeks and continued them to 36 weeks. The shots themselves stung a bit but were easily managed. My only real side effects were headaches the day of, a little nausea, and some back pain the day after. My pregnancy went to 39 weeks, and I was induced due to my advanced maternal age."

• And...
• April 18, 2018

For Premature Labor "I had my first baby at 27 weeks due to an incompetent cervix. When I got pregnant with #2, my maternal-fetal medicine doctor prescribed me these shots. I started them at 16 weeks (cervical incompetence happens between 16-24 weeks). I'm now 35 weeks and 3 days with no issues and one shot left. They work for your cervix and if you have an irritable uterus. Some of the reviews on this page have nothing to do with the side effects of this shot. Side effects I've had are: headache, appetite change, weight gain, body ache, and discharge. This is a medication, so it's different for everyone. Just as how the shot works is different for everyone. The people at Makena call every month for an update on how my pregnancy is going. My insurance covered my shots 100%, my OB said they're $3,500 each. I would absolutely recommend these shots. I would take them again if I were to get pregnant again, but I don't intend to. They hurt, it's a 20-gauge needle injecting a thick medication into your upper butt."

• Car...
• September 26, 2017

For Premature Labor "I started these shots 16 weeks ago. I'm now 35 weeks. I've had many side effects: retaining fluid twice, headaches all the time, nausea, and I had high blood pressure once. I think I would have rather tried to do this pregnancy on my own. Yes, I've had early-term pregnancy, but all pregnancies are different, and I think I would have been better off without the Makena this time."

• dda...
• February 5, 2021

For Premature Labor "So last Thursday, I had gotten my Makena, and yesterday I got it once again. This time it is so different from my first time getting it. I'm having such a hard time walking. I'm so over it, and it is barely the start. I'm going to tell my doctor about it. These symptoms are horrible, I'm weak all over my body. I have a headache, I just feel very drowsy. My firstborn came at 36 weeks and 1 day, but he's so healthy, so there's no need for me to do this. I'm done."