Disclaimer: I am a former Amgen and Novartis Spokesperson. This content reflects my own personal opinions and was not created or reviewed by Amgen and Novartis. I was not paid to write this article.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
What do Aimovig, Ajovy, and Emgality have in common? Migraine for one, but more importantly, they are a class of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRPs). What did I just say? Well, the National Headache Foundation wrote a very easy-to-understand article on CGRPs and monoclonal antibodies for your reading pleasure!
Some pretty smart people figured out that by blocking CGRPs in our bodies, just maybe they can also block attacks in people with chronic migraine. For me, personally, I started Aimovig back in June 2018. It’s been a great experience for me and I look forward to fewer migraine days ahead. It’s exciting and I’m so grateful to be able to utilize this medication. But it hasn’t been perfect and I still have attacks.
After 7 months on Aimovig, I realized that I was having more and more attacks around week 3 and into week 4 every month. I noticed that I had fewer attacks around the first two weeks of the injection and as the month wore on, the attacks increased in severity and duration. Together with my doctor, we decided to give Ajovy a shot to see if there was a positive difference. Maybe Ajovy would give me a longer duration of migraine-free days beyond the two weeks.
On February 1, 2019 I took my first injection of Ajovy. I opted for the monthly injection since that is what I’ve been used to with Aimovig. I did not want to try the Quarterly injections in case I had serious side effects, which I am known for with almost EVERY medication I’ve ever tried. Thankfully, with Aimovig I only have mild side effects of constipation (which I treat with magnesium) and sporadic fatigue.
When I took my first injection of Ajovy, I was already in the middle of a migraine attack that had held on a few days. Normally, when I’d be in an active attack and I’d taken Aimovig, it would be gone by the next day. This was not the case with Ajovy. The migraine attack still held on and it has continued to this day. I’ve also had daily fatigue that I cannot shake since Day 3 of Ajovy. I am sleepy all day long.
I’ve also noticed that my heart rate has increased and now goes between 90-105 bpm lying down and up to 135 bpm if I’m walking from my bed to the bathroom, which is only a few feet. If I’m cooking, watch out! I won’t finish and I’ll be sweaty and exhausted by the end.
I don’t know if it’s related or not, but I was in the ER this past Monday with very strong chest pain. It was horrible and I am still getting bouts of pain to this day. While in the ER I had a severe Hemiplegic Migraine that led to a seizure. I was given IV meds to stop the seizure and it really helped. But not one day while on Aimovig, did I ever visit the ER due to migraine. Another side effect I’ve encountered on Ajovy is overwhelming itching all over my body. I am taking a daily antihistamine to help.
Needless to say, this has not been a good experience. Ajovy is a wonderful medication for so many people, so I know it’s just not agreeable with my body.
What has your experience been on Aimovig, Emgality, or Ajovy? I want to hear the good and the bad. We’re all so different, so when you hear the horror stories out there, try not to let them lead you away. Keep in mind, most people who post online are those that have bad experiences. Those with good experiences don’t really have the need to seek out others online because they are living life and enjoying their time outside!! You will almost always see more negative posts online in support groups than you will positive and that’s because we’re scared and are looking for others to help us feel less alone. Try not to let these messages scare you into NOT trying something that just might be an amazing life changer!
Aimovig Updates
Want to read my experience on Aimovig from Months 1 – 4?
Disclaimer: I am a former Amgen and Novartis Spokesperson. This content reflects my own personal opinions and was not created or reviewed by Amgen and Novartis. I was not paid to write this article.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
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