#anti cgrp

[chronicmigrainetime]

One year on Ajovy update!:

I can’t believe it’s been a year already, it’s gone so fast. I stopped doing monthly updates because the situation hasn’t really changed since the effect of the medication stabilised. I currently get ~10/30 migraine days a month —down from 30/30 before the medication— and my quality of life has improved dramatically as a result.

(Finding medication to help my POTS has also had a huge positive impact)

I’m still not really able to work a job, but I have been able to do a lot more of the work of being a person.

I had a review with the headache clinic that’s prescribing the Ajovy for me and they decided I can continue on it for another year (with another review at the end of the year), which is really good news.

[iskierka]

good time to remind people that if a doctor tries to put you on an elimation diet for migraine they’re a quack

[bloomburnburial]

have to preface this by saying: I don’t know anything. but I am curious about the connection between CGRP, my body’s apparently ridiculously efficient wound healing, and migraine. i wonder if I just have a naturally high level of CGRP… action(?) occurring in my body. I know they’ve surmised that inhibiting CGRP impedes wound healing, but also appears to prevent migraine.

[thebibliosphere]

Hopefully the migraine struggles get under control soon. Passing on some things that I learned from the headache clinic I go to since they're not pieces of advice I've seen elsewhere and hopefully they can help you or your followers. The first one is eating between 12 and 15 grams of protein within an hour of waking up every morning. The neurologists there said if you can be very consistent about it many people see a big improvement. The second is taking boswellia, it can act as an anti inflammatory so it's usually recommended for arthritis, but it less regulated with the dosage and stuff since its a supplement so definitely a research and ask health professionals type thing before trying it. Also the anti cgrp medications that have come out more recently are expensive as hell and a nuisance to get insurance to cover but a good option to look into when you can't take triptans

Oh, thank you. I hadn't heard of the protein one before, and I really struggle with protein intake because of my MCAS. I'll add that to things to try :)

And that's interesting about boswellia! I know it can act as a mast cell stabilizer, but the lack of regulation has always made me hesitant to try it. I might do some more research when I get the time.

[scientia-rex]

Hello, I appreciate your medical posts very much and having seen a post the other day where you said migraine was in your areas of special interest, I'd love to ask a related question. You talk about bodies and medicine and patient experience etc in a way that makes a lot of sense to me and I'd trust your take.

I have chronic migraine. I'm currently at 100% pain days, with varying severity. Very hard to pin down what is prodrome, the main event, and postdrome as it's all blurred into one. My migraine team want me to reduce painkiller usage (currently dihydrocodeine and paracetamol daily, and ibuprofen maybe every other day on top) due to rebound headache. I want to cut down because they're fucking expensive and I'm scared for my liver and kidneys. But I literally can't cope with life without them. I went off them for four months a few years ago and the pain was so severe and so debilitating I was the most suicidal I've been in my life. Without painkillers I can't get to the toilet unaided, rarely leave bed, even more rare to leave the house. It's hell. And that's not even considering the effects on everyone around me who has to pick up to care for me.

So what do I do? The way I see things, I need something to help the pain improve before I can use less painkillers, but the longer I go on trying to find something that works and not getting there, the more I think maybe I'm wrong in that. I know a bit about how codeine based painkillers can reduce your pain tolerance / pain baseline. I don't think it's an addiction issue because I've been at the same (over the counter) dosages for 4 years now. I just want to do all that I can to be better, but I also need to be alive to be better. I am stuck.

TL;DR - If you have any thoughts on the relationship between chronic migraine, painkiller use, preserving quality of life while finding a treatment, and increasing the chances of a treatment working, and where on earth the balance between all that lies, I'd really like to hear them.

Again, I absolutely appreciate if you can't answer this, don't want to etc. Giving advice online is notoriously tricky and all that. But a big thank you for your time in reading, and all your weight and exercise posts especially which make me feel so much better about my body. Wishing you all good things! 💖

I won't speak to your case directly, since I'm not your doctor, but here is my personal algorithm for escalating treatments for migraine (note that "abortives" in this case means something you take after a migraine starts to try to end it, while "prophylactic" means a daily treatment you take to reduce likelihood of developing a migraine):

-OTC combination of magnesium, feverfew, and butterbur, taken daily

-Triptans (insurance will usually demand patients fail at least 3 to cover a more expensive treatment)

-High-dose NSAIDs (as abortive treatment given risk of rebound headaches if used daily)

-Daily topiramate (insurance will always demand this is either failed or there's a clear contraindication)

-Daily calcium channel blockers

-Daily beta blockers (higher dose than used for anxiety or low-grade arrhythmias)

-Daily anti-epileptic medications (such as Lamictal)

-Monthly anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody injections (Aimovig or Ajovy; expensive so insurance will demand you've failed some or all of the previous meds)

-Abortive anti-CGRP orals (Nurtec or Ubrelvy)

-Abortive ergotamine, usually Migranal, a nasal spray (very expensive and must be repeated 15 minutes after initial dose regardless of whether symptoms are improving or not)

-Prophylactic Botox (I believe this is every 3 months, must be done in the office of a trained and licensed professional, usually but not always a Neurology provider)

-Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks (done by dripping lidocaine far back into the sinuses to reach the sphenopalatine ganglion, again in the office of a trained and licensed professional)

-Cephaly (transcranial magnetic stimulation at-home device), expensive so insurance hates covering it

Now, one of my newer tools, and my current personal favorite, is a greater occipital nerve block--easy and fast, low risk, and I've had about 90% success with my patients in aborting current headaches. Effects seem to last 3-4 weeks in most cases and since it's straight lidocaine (you don't have to include steroids, though you can) you can do it as often as needed. I generally do this in my office, but I did train one patient's spouse to do it at home given how frequent their headaches. The pharmacy lost their fucking mind about letting an outpatient have lidocaine. I don't know why.

I currently manage my pretty awful chronic migraines with a combination of monthly Aimovig, as-needed Excedrin (the combination of caffeine, Tylenol aka paracetamol, and aspirin is effective for many people but is a real risk for causing medication overuse headaches, the more official term for bounce-back), as-needed Ubrelvy (I can sleep after taking Ubrelvy but not Excedrin so it's a good option), and roughly monthly greater occipital nerve blocks (I teach my trainees to do it using myself as a subject). I wouldn't mind trying the Botox but it's a PITA to get in to see our only local Neurology provider and since my migraines are relatively well-controlled (probably 1-2 headache days a week right now) I don't think it's worth the effort.

I also really got a lot out of this lecture, so give it a try.

[keplercryptids]

and also okay listen, i am 100% for self-diagnosis, especially for chronic migraine. i actively think you SHOULD diagnose yourself with migraines if you in any way suspect that you get them. but with migraines it's actually important to seek out that official diagnosis too, so that you can get treatment that's more effective and safer for you. so yeah. go tell your doctor you get migraines and get the good shit (triptans, botox, anti-CGRPs).

[headpainmigraine]

Migraine isn’t a Headache Part Five: make it go away

I wanted to put something about getting diagnosed before I started to address medication, but the spoons to put my diagnosis journey together down on paper are much more than this section, so I’m skipping it until later.

(We’re out of Migraine Awareness Month now, but we are getting into Disability Pride Month, and chronic migraine is a disability, so!)

Treatment for Migraine can be divided into ACUTE and PREVENTATIVE

(and within that, can be divided into ‘medical’ and ‘complimentary’)

Acute treatment includes medication that treats the pain when you’re starting or having a migraine, like triptans, and methods you use to handle the pain, like cold packs

Preventative treatment aims to stop the migraine happening, so that you don’t need to use acute treatments.

Up until very recently (2021) there were no preventative treatments for migraine that were made specifically for migraine (until 2021)

(2021)

(That was three years ago.)

(Yeah)

Every other medication prescribed had originally been designed for something else.

As a result, you’ll find that a lot of suggested migraine preventative treatments are drugs used to treat things like high blood pressure, seizures and mental health issues like depression and psychosis – dosage makes all the difference.

This isn’t because they believe the cause of your migraine to be high blood pressure, or mental illness, but because the drugs also work to mitigate migraines – I’m only highlighting that because I’ve seen it suggested that when a doctor prescribes an antidepressant for migraines, it’s because they’re treating depression – this isn’t true.

Even botox was first used in beauty treatments before they discovered that women who had it also experienced a reduction in their migraines.

There have been no medications made specifically for migraine until the last couple of years, which is a crazy state of affairs.

And, even now, the meds that are coming out for migraine (CGRP mAb injections -nabs and -gepants) aren’t widely available, and not at all in some countries (India, for example). We don’t yet have access to the exciting new -gepant drugs in the UK.

(EDIT: As of 31st May 2023 we MIGHT be getting access to them! Exciting!)

When you present at the GP with a headache, and the GP diagnoses you with migraine, they won’t usually jump to prescribing preventatives.

They will usually prescribe acute medications first, if anything at all.

It’s not uncommon to be told to take high dose dispersible aspirin or other over the counter meds marketed for migraine.

These meds are usually your average ibuprofen or paracetamol with added caffeine, sometimes with an added anti-emetic.

Remember that migraines aren’t a headache, so your stomach can stop working or work inefficiently when you’re having one.

Prescribing an acute pain relief medication alongside an anti-emetic helps your body actually absorb that acute med while you’re having an attack.

In my experience, no GP ever suggested or prescribed an anti-emetic alongside an acute treatment when I first went to them with migraines, so be prepared to have to make that suggestion yourself, and to be shot down if they disagree.

The usual anti-emetics will be metoclopramide hydrochloride, or prochlorperazine (also used for schizophrenia and anxiety)

Sometimes, your GP will prescribe naproxen, or another prescription NSAID for your migraines.

If you’re lucky, your GP might prescribe a triptan.

I believe the most common is ‘sumatriptan’ but there are a whole host of them (rizatriptan and almotriptan might be two others you’ve heard about).

I’m currently taking eletriptan, which is a much older triptan and not widely used by most GP’s for some reason.

This to say, that if you’re prescribed eg sumatriptan and it doesn’t work for you, try asking for another type.

Another reason triptans might not work for you is the method of administration.

If your migraines present with a lot of vomiting, something that melts on your tongue or a buccal tablet that dissolves under your upper lip might work better for you than a tablet you swallow. Some of them even come in nasal sprays.

TL;DR – Acute Treatment - Medications

- Paracetamol

- Ibuprofen

- Aspirin (dispersible aspirin for fast absorption, 900mg best dose)

- Co-codamol (voted most likely to cause rebound headaches)

- Naproxen (prescription only)

- Triptans (prescription only?)

- Anti-emetics (metoclopramide, prochlorperazine)

- Other prescription NSAIDs (tolfenamic acid, diclofenac potassium, diclofenac sodium, mefenamic acid)

- US only? -gepants

You can’t take most of these medications indefinitely.

They recommend taking cocodamol no more than 3 days in a row because of risk of addiction.

You can’t take metoclopramide for a long time.

Almost all of these meds can cause rebound/medication overuse headaches

Not to mention the side effects these meds come with, or the stress you might be putting on your kidneys/liver/rest of your body.

When your pain is that bad that you CAN’T care about the risks of taking something that might make a little dent in the agonies, you don’t think about those risks.

The hard part is that you get to the point where you HAVE TO start thinking about those risks.

Taking painkillers all day every day every time isn’t sustainable.

I know, it sucks.

Maybe in the future they’ll come up with a painkiller we can take that will reduce the pain without side effects destroying your body, but we’re not there yet.

Just another happy part of being alive as someone with chronic pain!

BUT! That’s where ‘complimentary’ treatments come in. These come in preventative and acute flavours too, with a lot of overlap, but we’re looking at acute treatments this time around.

If you’re a long-term chronic pain patient, you’ll probably already know about all of these.

I covered “lifestyle changes” that might help headaches in THIS PART, and you can use those here (sticking to a sleep schedule, regular meals, staying hydrated, ugh, yeah, I know, it helps though), but, for more urgent relief:

***Little disclaimer, not everything will work for everyone. Maybe you have other conditions that contraindicate these ideas. I’m not a medical professional, just a dude who suffers and uses this stuff to suffer a little less.***

- Cold treatment (ice packs, sticky cold patches, running cold water over your head, cold swimming, cold gels in a tube, ice hats)

- Heat treatment (electric heat pads, microwaveable heat packs, sticky heat patches, hot water bottles, hot baths)

- Balms (tiger balm, roll-on headache gels, pulse point gels, menthol rubs)

- Aromatherapy (helpful sometimes, but just as likely to aggravate your migraine as not. Proceed with caution.)

- Hot drinks (I don’t know why, but a cup of hot chocolate really takes the edge off my migraines?)

- Cold drinks, with ice

- Massage/Muscle treatments (anything from muscle relaxant bubble baths to massage rollers to getting someone to rub your back for you, if you’re lucky enough to have someone willing to do that)

- Gentle stretching (you can find a lot online; look for post-operative/elderly/low impact stretches)

- Sleep masks/Sunglasses (get away, light!)

- Travel sickness pills or ginger caplets for nausea

- Acupuncture (there is a point between the index finger and thumb in the meat of your hand that is supposed to ease pain if you add pressure to it – it doesn’t really work for me, but it’s worth a try. I’d suggest Googling/YouTubing it. I have acupuncture needles and have been shown how to use them, so it might be worth asking if you know a practitioner you trust?)

I’m sure I’m missing something that will come to me later.

For travel, I take:

- painkillers and my triptans (and anti-emetic when I’m allowed to have one)

- travel sickness pills/ginger pills

- balm tin/roller

- cold balm/sometimes cold patches

- shades

I’ve also shaved my head – I usually go down to a Grade 1, but have gone 0 before, which was weird.

Hair grows back surprisingly fast, and having short hair is amazing for migraines, especially in the summer.

You don’t need to spend so much time washing/drying your hair (which is helpful when you’re in the midst of an attack and/or have comorbidities that make showering difficult).

You can also apply cold/heat treatments closer to the scalp, but be careful not to burn yourself (I am absolutely not speaking from experience…)

On a greater scale, just making your room (or wherever you go to hide when you have migraines) as comfortable for you as possible is helpful. Enough pillows, blankets you can kick off if you overheat, a fan to keep the room cool but not cold, curtains or blackout blinds depending on how much light you want to block out.

I use a text-to-speech app to read fanfic to me, or I listen to audiobooks when I’m being photosensitive but can manage sound, and don’t want to be bored out of my gourd.

Has anyone else got any other tips that don’t fall into the above categories for help when you’re having a migraine?

Next up in this series: Preventative Treatment (Meds and Complimentary Treatments)

[aturinfortheworse]

Think I have learned a valuable lesson about anti-cgrp meds: having a less painful migraine does not, in fact, mean that putting off rescue meds for a couple hours is totally fine. Why do I keep thinking that's a good idea?? Have not been forced to bed by a migraine for like months but got absolutely wiped the fuck out after work today.

[qwertyfingers]

last 3 weeks havs felt like the longest of my LIFE is2g. 5 months of functioning migraine treatment out the fuckign window bc of a delayed medication delivery and i backslid so hard and so fast and it has been making me unbelievably miserable. absolutely unreal that i lived through ten years of it being even worse than this??? i’m at like not even 30% of how bad it was pre-medication and i am already struggling to like, sleep and eat or experinece even basic emotions. the one day i forgot my adhd medication this week made me feel like i was in a car spinning on black ice and there was no driver. i give myself a hard time about Not Doing Enough With My Life pretty often but like looking back i was working so hard in the mines of just, lying to myself about how bad it was to get through the day. i had a migraine all day every day for close to 7 years and now that i don’t have that i’m finally starting to remember just how awful migraines actually are? every time i get one now it takes me COMPLETELY out of commission like i am in a dark fucking room with ice on my head drinking electrolyte mix and taking unholy drug cocktails meanwhile this time last year i would freqwuently like, take multiple-hour train journeys with this shit? i think i deserve a fucking medal of honour for this. anyway shout out to medical science for invent anti-CGRP drugs because they are not only the first meds that have ever worked at ALL for my migraines but i went from 24/7 365 migraine town to like 1 a week in less than 6 months and i literally feel like a completely new person. sorry it’s 6am and i’m having a crying moment about the fact that in april i almost died bc i nevr thought i would ever get better and now i am. hope is real! peace and love on planet earth

[care-corner]

Understanding Migraine: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Migraines are more than just severe headaches—they are a complex neurological condition that can significantly impact daily life. Understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and exploring effective treatment options can empower individuals to manage their migraines more effectively.

Causes of Migraine

Migraines are thought to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. While the exact cause remains unclear, several triggers have been identified:

Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in hormones, particularly estrogen, are a significant trigger for migraines in women. This is why many women experience migraines around their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or at menopause.

Dietary Triggers: Certain foods and beverages, such as aged cheeses, alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine, and processed meats, can provoke migraines. Irregular eating patterns, such as skipping meals, may also lead to an attack.

Stress: Emotional stress, whether from work, relationships, or other aspects of life, is a well-known trigger for migraines. Interestingly, migraines can also occur as a result of stress relief, such as after a particularly stressful period.

Environmental Factors: Sensitivity to external stimuli, such as bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or even changes in weather, can trigger migraines. Many sufferers report that certain environments can exacerbate their condition.

Sleep Disruptions: Both insufficient sleep and excessive sleep can trigger migraines. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is often recommended as part of migraine management.

Symptoms of Migraine

Migraine symptoms vary widely among individuals but typically include:

Severe Headache: The hallmark of a migraine is a throbbing or pulsating headache, usually on one side of the head. This pain can be moderate to severe and may last from a few hours to several days.

Aura: Approximately 25% of migraine sufferers experience an aura before the headache begins. This can include visual disturbances such as flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag patterns, as well as sensory, motor, or speech disturbances.

Nausea and Vomiting: Migraines are often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, with nausea being particularly common. Some individuals may also experience vomiting.

Sensitivity to Light and Sound: During a migraine attack, sufferers often become highly sensitive to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). This sensitivity may force them to seek a dark, quiet environment.

Fatigue and Mood Changes: Fatigue and irritability often precede or follow a migraine. Many people report feeling unusually tired or having mood swings before a migraine attack.

Treatment Options for Migraine

Effective migraine management requires a multifaceted approach. Treatment typically involves a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, alternative therapies:

Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, are often used for mild migraines. For more severe cases, doctors may prescribe triptans, which are designed to block pain pathways in the brain, or other prescription medications like anti-nausea drugs. Preventive medications, such as beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, or CGRP inhibitors, may be recommended for those with frequent migraines.

Lifestyle Modifications: Establishing a routine with regular sleep, a balanced diet, and consistent hydration can help reduce the frequency of migraines. Stress management techniques, including yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, are also beneficial.

Avoiding Triggers: Identifying and avoiding specific migraine triggers is crucial. Keeping a migraine diary can help track what might be causing the attacks, whether it’s food, stress, or environmental factors.

Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, biofeedback, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown promise in managing migraines. Some patients find relief through dietary supplements like magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.

At-Home Remedies: Applying a cold compress to the forehead and resting in a dark, quiet room can help alleviate symptoms during a migraine attack.

Conclusion

Migraines are a challenging condition that requires a comprehensive approach to management. By understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and exploring various treatment options, individuals can find effective strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of their migraines. Consult with a healthcare provider to create a personalized migraine management plan that addresses your specific needs and triggers.

[kidmedik-blog]

Migraña

Epidemiologia

Según cálculos de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (SEN), más de cinco millones de personas tienen migraña en España, 1,5 millones de manera crónica y experimentando dolor más de 15 días al mes (12% de la población, una de cada cinco mujeres).

Sintomatología

Se manifiesta en ataques y que, aunque el síntoma guía es el dolor de cabeza, hay expresiones de la enfermedad que se manifiestan con dolor abdominal, vómitos, vértigos, aura (sensorial, visual del lenguaje…), foto y sonofobia.

Se trata de una enfermedad muy incapacitante y que afecta principalmente a las mujeres en edad media de la vida, pero que se puede tener en cualquier momento de la vida, porque además es altamente heredable y genéticamente mediada.

El tema es calcular los días que la migraña discapacita a las personas, que es lo que marca la gravedad o el grado de la enfermedad. Nosotros esto lo contabilizamos con un número de días de migraña al mes, y hay gente que tiene 20 días de migraña al mes. Esas personas están todos esos días completamente incapacitadas para hacer casi cualquier cosa, y mucho menos trabajar, cuidar de alguien… Y todo esto repercute a otros niveles, tienen ansiedad, depresiones.

En la actualidad ya disponemos de varios tratamientos que pueden funcionar, no a todos los pacientes, pero sí a muchos. Entre un 80 y un 85% de los pacientes responden bien a estos tratamientos. De ellos, la mitad mejora espectacularmente y la otra mitad, parcialmente.

-Indice de riesgo vascular

La migraña también está asociada a un mayor riesgo vascular equiparable a la hipertensión.

Tratamiento

En los últimos 30 años, ha habido tres revoluciones terapéuticas en migraña. La primera fue a principios de los 90 con los triptanes, fármacos diseñados específicamente para tratar el ataque de migraña y que salvaron la vida de mucha gente que hasta entonces tomaba incluso morfina. La segunda fue la infiltración de toxina botulínica como tratamiento preventivo, que se aprobó con esta indicación en el año 2012; y la última ha sido en el 2019, cuando se aprueban los tratamientos anti CGRP. El CGRP es una sustancia, una proteína que es un biomarcador de migraña. Controlando la expresión de esta proteína, mejora mucho la vida de las personas con migraña.

Futuro en el diagnóstico y tratamiento

Diagnóstico

Esperamos tener en los próximos años es poder disponer de una prueba diagnóstica que complemente el diagnóstico clínico. Para que la gente al menos tenga algo, porque parte del problema de estigma y banalización de la migraña viene de que no hay una prueba diagnóstica que confirme que tienes migraña.

Tratamiento

Ahora mismo se están poniendo la bases para la siguiente, que probablemente sean vías complementarias relacionadas con el control de la expresión excitatoria de las neuronas, a través del control de canales del glutamano, el potasio... Pero el problema que nos encontramos con estos medicamentos es que, por ahora, son mal tolerados.

Bibliografía:

Dra. Patricia Pozo Rosich, ganadora del premio SEN en la subespecialidad de cefaleas, un galardón otorgado por su "prolífica actividad científica e investigadora en cefaleas", actividad que realiza desde el Migraine Adaptive Brain Center-Entrevista para el periódico 20 minutos. País: España. Periodista: Merche Borja. NOTICIA fecha: 04.08.2024 - 08:19h.

La Dra. Patricia Pozo Rosich nada más recoger el premios cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurolgía.Cedida

[chronicmigrainetime]

Four months on ajovy update:

I completely forgot to do a three month update because I’ve been very busy but things have pretty much continued to be the same as the two month update.

The 3 month review went great, they said that I had a 70% reduction in migraines (30 days -> 9 days), which was more than enough for me to stay on the ajovy. Now I will have another review once I have been on it for a year. I don’t know what will happen at this review. I’ve seen some things saying that if the migraines days are below a certain threshold you trial coming off the medication, but I don’t know what the threshold is or what happens if you’re not below it. This drug is also pretty new on the NHS so it’s possible that the guidelines will have changed by the time I get there as they get more data.

In the last two months I have continued to have about 9 migraine days a month. These migraine days almost exclusively occur in the week before my injection and the week after it, so I’m assuming this is due to the medication slowly wearing off before the injection and then taking a little time to ramp back up after the injection. This means I’m essentially in a pattern of two good weeks and then two bad weeks, which is an interesting place to be. I’m so incredibly glad to have the two good weeks, it’s really wonderful, and even the bad weeks are better than they were before this medication, but I still can’t commit myself to anything that is weekly (or, god forbid, daily) because I know I won’t be up to it for half of the weeks. Essentially, I’m much more able to exist now, but I’m not quite able to be fully part of the world again yet. That said it is very nice to have some level of regularity to when I feel worse, that way I can plan around it and cut myself more slack when it’s happening.

The injection pens themselves are now being delivered to me in boxes of 3 every 3 months, I use 1 pen a month and keep the rest in the fridge.

Unfortunately, doing the injections seems to have gotten worse over time. I’ve done 5 now, and I think the knowing what it’s going to be like makes it harder to do. It is very difficult to knowingly stab yourself. For me I’ve found that injecting into the stomach is manageable but injecting into the leg is excruciatingly painful, it also seems to be worse if either me or the medication is too cold so it might just be worse during the winter in general.

I’ve continued to have no side effects other than injection site reactions. The level of reaction at the injection site seems to vary a lot and I don’t really know why. Sometimes it’s basically non-existent, sometimes (like this time) it’s bruised and painful for several days. While this is irritating, it is absolutely amazing that there are no other side effects of this medication. This is such a massive step up from the other medications I’ve tried.

[bloomburnburial]

I know I say this frequently but anti-CGRPs are a godsend. I genuinely forgot I had a killer migraine looming earlier

[poesielibre]

Medical/ prescription medication rant

So I've caught a cold following visit family out town. The thing is I got really bad brain fog for days. I am now looking at scientific articles and studies of the effect of anti-cgrp monoclonal antibodies (that is part of my migraine treatment) on the immune system. The reading is eye opening. Since this is and actual new class of medication the long term side effects are unknown.

Reading these articles makes me feel like people who are prescribed those medication are just test subjects. Except the risks are real. But when this type of medication is prescribed it is a last resort, it is prescribed because nothing else works. And yet we are told there are barely any side effects. I took another version two years ago and stopped because the side effects were becoming too much to handle and my immune system was actually better than now.

[scientia-rex]

Man, I haven’t been sure why my mood has been crap lately—I figured it was because of the lawsuit—but it did just occur to me that I’ve been off my Aimovig for about as long as I’ve been feeling really crappy. I just haven’t had time to make an appointment with my neurologist to get it refilled and her wait list is like 6 months and I hate stabbing myself anyway. But what if an anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody decreasing inflammation actually improves my mood?????? I need to do some reading. Any migraine researchers got any thoughts about this?