Currently on 140mg a month - for those of you that stopped do I need to taper or do I just not take it at the beginning of the month ?
I want to stop taking Aimovig?
Question posted by Johnf056 on 27 Dec 2018
Last updated on 12 February 2022
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4 Answers
Kstockton
12 Feb 2022
@gailsm Have you tried to contact Amgen directly about getting a coupon or discount for Aimovig. I know they offer one. Also, Imitrex (sumatripan) did nothing for me, even before taking Aimovig. But Zomitriptan worked wonders as an emergency medication. From what I understand, there are about 7 different triptans out there -- and while most people respond to sumitriptan (Imitrex), not everyone is the same. It took me about 10 years to figure out that Zomitriptan (zomig) worked for me. If you take it soon enough after migraine onset, you wouldn't necessarily need something like ibuprofen, since you can't take NSAIDS. But if you can't get to your emergency medication in time (or migraine onset happens while you're asleep) and the blood vessels have time to dilate, something to constrict the blood vessels is helpful. You might talk to your doctor about options. This sounds strange, but as all migrainers know -- caffeine is helpful.
I try not to drink soda, but a Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper in combination with my migraine emergency med and an anti-inflammatory drug hit the target every time. Depending on if I woke up with a migraine, it sometimes takes a day. But at least I don't have it for days on end. Check your dosage level too. My mom takes a 2.5mg zomig... but I have to have a 5mg dose to feel any effect. Good luck! Don't give up! And go find a neurologist that specializes in migraines... they'll know MUCH more than your general practitioner. I think I heard they only spend half a day in med school teaching about migraines to your general practitioner type of docs. Trust me, I went to about 4 different general practitioners that told me everything from "have you tried having a baby?" to "just take 800mg of ibuprofen & drink 6 cups of coffee each day". Then I finally broke down and went to a neurologist when I had a govt job (ie great insurance) and I had relief and was on a new script within a week (!)
sara12345
12 Feb 2022
If you don't want to drink sodas, Monster Energy drinks have just 10 calories and no sugar in a 16 oz can. And it has a lot of caffeine, 8-9 oz of it treat my migraines. I like the orange one, ultra sunrise, the best, but they have various flavors.
gailsm
17 Nov 2021
Aimovig is too expensive for me. I was/am on the 140 mg a month injection. When it has come time to pay for the next months dosage I weighed the pros against the expense and didn't take the injection on the one month mark, with full intentions of stopping it. But I have been trying to do this for six months now and every single time I am greeted with a much more severe migraine than I was having before using it. I've tried three different medications to ease the migraine or "withdrawal migraine," and had no relief. I tried Qulipta, Imitrex and Fioricet with a muscle relaxer and none of these worked at all or very very little. Where as Qulipta, Imitrex or Fioricet with a muscle relaxer have worked for me 98% the time prior to starting Aimovig and while on it but not while stopping it. As an aside I am allergic to NSAIDS so that leaves out that whole over the counter plus group for me. I also take Botox for migraines.
I finally called the company that created Aimovig and they bluntly told me that they had done many studies on starting and using Aimovig but not on discontinuing it. For now I have to stay on it unless I want to suffer through a seven plus day long migraines that doesn't go away. Any guidance or suggestions, please?
sara12345
12 Feb 2022
It is expensive. What about trying the 70 mg strength? That is the strength that helps me. Check if your cost would be less and see if it still helps your migraines. And you may have less withdrawal when and if you stop it after being on the 70 strength. I am sorry to hear that you have so much difficulty stopping it.
sara12345
2 Jan 2019
I wonder why you wanted to stop--because the medication didn't help you or some bad reaction.
Johnf056
2 Jan 2019
It wasn’t really doing anything for me that I could tell, and the constipation was getting really bad. Plus I had a lot of muscle aches and fatigue- not sure if that was due to the Aimovig but I want to baseline it to be sure.
sara12345
2 Jan 2019
Good thinking. However, do you know that from their study that people found the most relief in months 3 through 6? My greatest improvement came at 5 months. It was suddenly like a miracle drug. Also I just increased the Miralax that I need to take due to other medications that cause constipation. I take it along with Metamucil. I wish you the best.
Johnf056
2 Jan 2019
Thank you - actually I’ve been on it since August. I went to another doctor who has put me on the Mito diet since my abdominal migraines seem to come first. She feels this will help tremendously and the acupuncturist doing deep muscle treatments on my back and shoulder muscles has really helped relieve the headaches - my migraines came as on a result of a car accident where I was diagnosed with Post Concussive Syndrome. The only remaining symptom of that has been the migraines.
sara12345
2 Jan 2019
Interesting. My migraines were caused by a major stroke. And if you haven't felt any improvement since August, then it isn't helping you. A friend of mine didn't get any relief from it. Aside from the Aimovig, my best results occurred from acupuncture from the 3rd acupuncturist that I saw. But he has never done any deep muscle treatments on my back and shoulder muscles. But I do get from a neurologist, nerve block and trigger point injections on my head, neck, shoulders and upper back which have helped my migraines. Mine are occipital nerve migraines which are affected by tight muscles in those areas. So we seem similar in some ways. Thank you for sharing about your experiences.
Vixrn
31 Dec 2018
I stopped taking it. I did not taper it I just stopped.
sommers80
22 March 2020
Did you suffer any withdrawal effects or worsening of your migraines for awhile after stopping the Aimovig ?
Related topics
migraine prevention, taper, aimovig
Further information
- Aimovig uses and safety info
- Aimovig prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Aimovig (detailed)
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