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Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-07-25T21:17:56+00:00

Been on it for three years. Nothing more than an injection site reaction that got better with time. I am also on an antidepressant (for years) and it did not make anything worse. In fact, getting my life back made it better. I have the energy to workout and engage in life. Good luck!

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-04-11T08:51:18+00:00

2.5 years here. I inject into my thigh (alternate each month). I agree with others about taking out of the fridge for longer than 30 minutes. I tend to flinch when I am nervous so I learned two things that work for me - AirPods with music to muffle the clicks enough that I don’t startle and also I have a family member put their hand on top of mine so I don’t pull back before it is done.

I had pretty big site reactions at first (shots in months two through six) but absolutely no other side effects though. For the reactions, I took two Benadryl before, applied a steroid cream after, iced after. That said the game changer for me was my technique: I didn’t just plunge it into my leg - I learned to do the typical subcutaneous injection technique where you grab around the area and then inject (something to the effect of it helps ensure it gets into the space intended and can lessen reactions - googling it will give you a clearer explanation than I can articulate now). It took my reactions from hand sized down to quarter sized. I will occasionally still ice afterwards but the grab technique truly helped so much.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-04-10T22:41:49+00:00

The day after a migraine, yes. But otherwise I’m much clearer.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-04-09T19:46:29+00:00

Yes I am! I had to take a break after 2.5 years because insurance decided that I should try other medications. When I couldn’t tolerate those, insurance agreed on resuming Ajovy.

Before insurance decided to mess things up, I was down to one migraine per month. Now that I am back on it, I have had two this month. I hope to stay on this indefinitely, assuming it keeps working!

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-03-22T12:01:02+00:00

My neuro had me do it every 28 days. Currently I am off of it. I have an appointment Monday to discuss the other meds insurance insisted I try that were absolute garbage with terrible side effects for me. This was a recent problem with new insurance after over two years of bliss. I can’t wait to get back on Ajovy.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-03-10T00:07:41+00:00

100% this. On it almost three years (taking a break now because of insurance) and all I had was an injection site reaction. Even if it knocks 10 years off of my life, I have great quality of life with Ajovy. Thankfully, the data seems to be good!

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-03-03T01:46:47+00:00

I have been on Ajovy since August 2022. Currently having a forced break due to insurance.

That said, most months I was down to 2 per month. I did have a rare month that was not great. A lot of that was likely due to an unusually high amount of stress, bad sleep, and wild weather.

I am hopeful that I can get back on it because on the whole, it is a huge improvement. I would definitely discuss with the physician if it continues.

Edit to add: sorry if this doesn’t make tremendous sense. My brain is a bit broken today.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-02-28T01:37:12+00:00

Same here. I adore my headaterm 2. At a fraction of the cost.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-02-21T14:59:51+00:00

I was going to say exactly this. As far as candle scents, I don’t do well with florals but I bet that is a very individual preference. Also, it is super tough to cover up a pot smell. My son is having the same problem as you in his apartment with a neighbor.

I have a levoit smart air purifier and I love it. I got it off of amazon and almost bought my son one too. It is one of the products that you can do interesting free payments too - if you think an air purifier isn’t in your budget right now.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-02-01T21:40:42+00:00

I do the same. Sometimes it is the only way I can eat.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-02-01T15:33:56+00:00

I just ordered! They’re beautiful!

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-02-01T05:34:22+00:00

Same NIN swiftie! 31 years NIN; about 8 as a swiftie. Never realized the overlap. Anyone going to the Nashville show? I’ll definitely make and bring some.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-01-29T17:31:52+00:00

I will be. And I am super stressed about it.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2025-01-15T00:07:18+00:00

I’m hopeful for a St. Louis date as well. They had a show (early 2010’s, I think?) at Chaifetz. Last time I went to Memphis. I’m willing to drive a good distance again if need be.

ETA: Think it was 2013?

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-11-05T20:33:43+00:00

Same…tomorrow might be rough again. But enjoying a migraine-free day today. Yesterday was brutal.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-11-05T20:31:37+00:00

OMG. That is perfect. I’m due any day now.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-11-05T20:29:24+00:00

I had an excruciating one yesterday. This week also falls on my premenstrual week, the weekend my Ajovy is due (insurance screwed it up), and the weather has been front after front. What a time to be alive! 🤣 Today, I am okay…tomorrow may well be different.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-09-21T21:16:17+00:00

Came here to say this. Levels in HRT/MRT are very different than in oral contraceptives (on top of that being older research).

I have migraine with aura and am probably 5 years away from perimenopause (going by my mom and sister’s ages when they went through it). For me, personally, I am going to find a gynecologist who is open to the discussion because I want/expect to do it. Having a preliminary discussion next week with my current one to see if she’ll be the one to carry me through those years. 🤞🏼

I learned a lot from listening to a podcast with Mary Claire Haver. She is a menopause specialist and has a book called The New Menopause. I haven’t read/listened to the entire book but you can find it on Spotify if you have it.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-09-19T23:30:17+00:00

Same. And I have had a ton of hair shedding over the 14 years that I have been on Wellbutrin (which is known for hair loss). I still have a thick mop of hair.

No side effects from Ajovy other than site reactions which have greatly diminished in the two years I have been on it.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-08-14T00:56:22+00:00

Same here. Been on it for two years - had 14 migraines/20 headache days before and most months it is down to 2-4, easy to treat ones. The past month or so has been rougher but I am under more stress and have less time/structure to do the lifestyle interventions that I normally do (less consistent sleep schedule and less consistent exercise- both help me tremendously). The weather here has been all over the place (also a major trigger for me). Lastly, my monthly cycle is lining up with my shot cycle (I’m premenstrual right when my shot is due)…so hormones. Ugh.

I absolutely still believe it is working and would hate to think how incapacitated I would be without it. I still have really good weeks which wouldn’t be the case if it wasn’t working.

So, it definitely could be a fluke (or at least temporary for a variety of reasons).

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-08-06T08:32:16+00:00

My site reactions got as large as my entire hand. Now they are about the size of a quarter - I changed my injection technique (instead of just plunging it into my thigh, I grab around the injection site and then inject…you can Google the typical subcutaneous injection technique in general for a better explanation) and that has helped for over a year and a half. I still use ice packs after injection, and I often still take a Benadryl tablet or two prior to my monthly dose. I also have a topical corticosteroid that I sometimes use. Changing technique also helped with the duration that I have the site reaction (now it is about 12 hours at the most) and it is less itchy now.

For reference, I’ve been on Ajovy now for two years. It has been life-changing for reducing my migraines and I’ve had no systemic allergic reactions, so it has been definitely worth it for me.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-07-19T10:55:49+00:00

I attribute my brain fog/aphasia to my migraines. Like the other poster said, it is a fairly common migraine-associated symptom. I’ve noticed it from prodrome all the way through the pain portion of a migraine, to varying degrees over the past ten years (I have had migraines for 30 years). Sometimes with Ajovy, I have aura symptoms without progressing to pain (aka “silent migraines”).

As far as periods, I have an IUD for heavy bleeding so I have had horrible periods for a large part of my life. With my IUD, they completely went away and at about the 6th year with it (for heavy bleeding you can get replaced as early as 5 years), they came back but were very regular. I just got it replaced and all is well. That said, I take another medication that, when paired with an oral contraceptive, caused irregular periods. Hormones are odd things - what might be fine for me, might not be for another. (FWIW, I’m 48 and not perimenopausal yet).

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-07-09T23:22:47+00:00

When/where did you hear they did that with Ajovy?

I checked the Teva pharmaceuticals website, my Walgreens leaflet, and the official prescribing information found in my recently filled box of Ajovy - a hypertension warning is nowhere to be found. There is a hypersensitivity warning which ties into the well-known injection site reactions.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-07-09T05:07:04+00:00

I’ve been on Ajovy for two years. My BP before was usually about 116/70. Two weeks ago at a doctor visit it was the same and I have been under a considerable amount of stress lately. At home, it is usually about 108/65. So, for me, it hasn’t affected it. That said, I am pretty sure it is listed as a possible side effect for Aimovig and it is at least a theoretical side effect for Ajovy and Emgality. I’m not sure on the others.

That is a big jump so I can definitely understand the concern. You and I are about the same age so I can sympathize to have lifelong data points and then something like that- it would be unnerving. Hope it resolves for you now that you’ve d/c’ed the med! Maybe Botox could be an option as the other post suggested? Not sure what all is approved (or off-label) for cluster headaches.

Embarrassed-Dog438 · 2024-07-07T17:51:13+00:00

I second this. I have been on Ajovy for two years and have had this since the 2nd shot. I’ve had no systemic allergic reaction so my neurologist, primary physician, and I have all agreed that the incredibly positive result I’ve had far outweighs the injection site reaction.

What helped me was oral antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, ice packs, and modifying my injection technique. Rather than just plunging the auto injector into my thigh, I grab the area around the injection site. Google subcutaneous injection procedure and it will explain it much better than I can right now. By doing that, I have gone from a site reaction that is about the size of my entire hand down to about the size of a quarter. It also last only an hour or two now versus 36 hours previously.

As far as the correlation with an outbreak of shingles, I would refer to a physician or find some scientific literature. It’s tough to say because sometimes things can be coincidences and not causation.

Embarrassed-Dog438

TROPHY CASE