Ajovy and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• Opa...
• August 25, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "This medication should only be taken by those willing to risk losing 6 months of their lives being homebound. In March 2020, I was prescribed Ajovy. I was told the major concerns were constipation and injection site reaction, which the manufacturer's website stated as well. I took the Ajovy in April & May 2020. In June 2020, I started to experience GI problems, such as bloating, extreme constipation, nausea, heart palpitations, sense of unease, and panic, vertigo, joint pain, and extreme fatigue. Workup with my PCP in August 2020 showed a 20lb weight gain, elevated LFTs, and increased heart rate from my usual baseline. The only change made in lifestyle or meds in 2020 was the Ajovy... I am now suffering 3 months after my last dose and would not wish this on anyone. I started with very high hopes with this medication. However, this medication is MUCH WORSE than the migraines."

• Opa...
• August 25, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "This medication should only be taken by those willing to risk losing 6 months of their lives being homebound. In March 2020, I was prescribed Ajovy. I was told the major concerns were constipation and injection site reaction, which the manufacturer's website stated as well. I took the Ajovy in April & May 2020. In June 2020, I started to experience GI problems, such as bloating, extreme constipation, nausea, heart palpitations, sense of unease, and panic, vertigo, joint pain, and extreme fatigue. Workup with my PCP in August 2020 showed a 20lb weight gain, elevated LFTs, and increased heart rate from my usual baseline. The only change made in lifestyle or meds in 2020 was the Ajovy... I am now suffering 3 months after my last dose and would not wish this on anyone. I started with very high hopes with this medication. However, this medication is MUCH WORSE than the migraines."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Ajovy for almost two years. After the first 3 months of injections, I ended up in the ER with severe itching from head to toe. They didn't know why. I continued to take the injections and about 3 months later went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. I had really bad dizziness and heart palpitations, along with an abnormal EKG. I stopped the injections until my migraines started again and I couldn’t take the pain. Now I'm having severe muscle and bone pain. It's so bad that my doctor did all kinds of tests - arthritis, lupus, and multiple myeloma tests. They all came back negative. Today, I went for a bone scan with nuclear meds. I haven't received the results yet but I feel that it's due to Ajovy. I have decided to stop these injections. I'm 57 but I feel like I'm 97!"

• Diz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "My experience with this drug has been horrific. I injected it 2 weeks ago and have been sick ever since. It has doubled the amount of migraines that I get. I have also had severe dizziness and vertigo, along with heart palpitations and anxiety. It has given me neck and muscle pain as well. I am nauseous and can't sleep. This drug listed no side effects but injection site reaction, which I did not get. I expect to be sick for at least the full month that this drug will be in my system. This is not the miracle drug I was expecting. Teva is definitely not being forthcoming."

• JSP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I started Ajovy 225mg in January. The first month I noticed no help with migraines, actually, it was a little worse. Also started getting lightheaded and lacked appetite. The second shot in February, my symptoms became worse: bad taste in my mouth, feeling spacey, no appetite, still no reduction in migraines. Also, experiencing constipation, insomnia, and low energy. The 3rd shot and last brought chills and flushing, heart palpitations, irritability, trouble concentrating, major panic attacks. Numbness in legs and arms, confusion, my wife called 911 thinking I was having a heart attack. No one can tell me how long this will last. I was told by Teva, the maker of Ajovy, that it has a 31-day half-life, which means it will take 155 days for the Ajovy to be out of my system. My neurologist has no answers. The doctors at the ER said it was a severe panic attack, and I was dehydrated. I hope this helps. Sorry, I am not thinking very well. No changes in my medication except Ajovy."

• SMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Took first shot 5/1/2020. Within two weeks, I had extreme heart palpitations, high blood pressure (I normally have low blood pressure), shortness of breath, and stomach issues. I actually called 911 because I thought I was having a heart attack. I don’t have a history of cardiac problems at all. I was advised by the cardiologist who saw me in the hospital not to take it anymore. It didn’t help my chronic daily migraine anyway."

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I started Aimovig injections in August 2018. I took 3 doses (2 shots each) monthly. I believe it made a dent in the migraines (I suffered from 4-5 migraines a week). I had issues with pain at the injection site, felt like I had a mild flu and constipation. My doctor started me on Ajovy, and the injections were better, but I was very constipated, bloated, and gained a couple of pounds without a diet change. I did not take my Feb. 28th inject last month. I have had horrible headaches--like I've never had--and I have extreme heart palpitations two or three times daily since last week (approximately two weeks after I should have had an injection). I haven't changed anything else in my meds, diet, or stress conditions. My gut is that I am going through a type of withdrawal from this drug. Would love to know if anyone else has experienced something similar. These palpitations are very disturbing."

• Ani...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "After many years of suffering head pain, I was started on Ajovy injections after Botox therapy had started to become less effective. I was told no side effects whatsoever. It was a miracle medication's breakthrough. I tried to find out about any problems with this injection but couldn't find anything significant. I am always very cautious when I am told 'no side effects' with any drug. However, I had the Ajovy injection, and within 24 hours, I was experiencing terrible side effects: palpitations, profuse sweating, bad stomach, severe bloatedness, dizziness, mental health weakness in my legs that I was unable to walk properly, blurred vision, fever, nausea. It was absolutely horrendous. I was promised this all had nothing to do with Ajovy and was told to take the second injection, which I did, but the same worsening side effects occurred: weight gain instant, 7 lbs in a month, tummy huge bloating. Totally horrified by this drug. I have never experienced being so ill on a medication as I have with Ajovy."

• Sli...
• December 2, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve had four injections for Ajovy so far. I’m really unsure about this injection. It has definitely helped my migraines. But the side effects are horrible-bloating, rash at the injection site, extreme fatigue, brain fog, pain in hand joints, and palpitations. Ajovy nurse has told me to stop as I’m at risk of anaphylactic shock, so it’s back to neurologist for me. Make sure you research this drug before taking it and consider pros and cons."

• ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have a 20-year history of migraines, with them becoming daily/chronic for the last 9 years. They have not responded to any meds I’ve tried. So, I decided to try Ajovy. I took the first dose on 6/1/21. Within one week, I had excruciating migraines not responding to any rescue meds. They calmed down eventually and went back to my usual. I have had elevated BP, palpitations, increased anxiety and depression (which had been under control), and aches and pains in my feet now as a result of taking the Ajovy. Like everyone else, no one believes it’s due to the Ajovy. Needless to say, I’m done."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "The most terrible medication I have ever had to take, as it didn’t improve migraines but also caused panic attacks, tiredness, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, and my hands and legs started shaking. Neurologist suggested to stop using this drug."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "The most terrible medication I have ever had to take, as it didn’t improve migraines but also caused panic attacks, tiredness, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, and my hands and legs started shaking. Neurologist suggested to stop using this drug."

• DKa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "The most terrible drug that I have ever used! I was taken by 911 because I started shaking, anxiety was so strong and, like others mentioned, I felt like I was about to pass out in my sleep. Heart palpitations were extremely strong. Previously, I had no issues with heart and anxiety, and this is the only medicine I started using recently. Quitting ASAP, as my migraines improved only a little, and side effects are so strong and unbearable!"

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I have a migraine history, but overall I am being treated for small fiber neuropathy and central sensitization. I was nervous about the injection but could barely feel it. There was a slight bruise on my stomach for a few days, but they gave the injection on pinched stomach skin, and it felt like it was nothing. I will say I have had no migraines from day one, so it works for that. It decreased sensory twitching randomly throughout my body. Side effects for me included a SEVERE flare of small fiber neuropathy-related neurological crawling itch through my entire body nonstop. It got worse as weeks went by, not better. It also causes racing heart and a sense of panic every day after about the first week. I can barely wait to get this out of my system, and hopefully I can survive until then. It is way worse than my original symptoms. I started taking a high dose of prednisone to hopefully settle this neuropathic itch so I can stay in work for the next two weeks. I would not recommend it for nerve issues."

• Run...
• October 30, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Ajovy for 5 months, and the only side effect I have noticed is heart palpitations (2 episodes lasted about a week each time). Otherwise, this has been a game changer for me. I still have gotten a few migraines during the 5 months, but I take rizatriptan when they come on, and usually within an hour and a nap it's gone. I have suffered debilitating cluster migraines for a while, and I'm so glad to have found Ajovy!"

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines for 36 years. A car wreck in 2002 triggered the growth of a Chiari malformation in my brain and changed the curvature of my neck, leading to brain surgery. I have had an intractable migraine for 19 years and eight months. Non-stop. I received my first (and last) Ajovy injection four days ago. I did not want it, but my doctor insisted it was the only way to get Medicare to pay for Botox, so they couldn't say we hadn't exhausted all other options. I was vomiting within fifteen minutes, but the doctor said I was fine. Within an hour, and ever since, the pain was, and is, unbelievably worse. I can barely eat anything, and what I do eat won't stay down. I can't sleep, I have a fever, my blood pressure is up, and my heart is racing. My doctor has not returned my call. If this is the manufacturer's idea of 'no side effects,' they are delusional."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "This was the worst drug I ever took. It did make my headaches go away, but I had HBP, heart palpitations, anxiety, could not sleep, severe joint pain, severe hot flashes, no monthly period. Dr. said no side effects. Lie."

• HBP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I took my 1st dose 4 days ago, 4/24/22. Yesterday, I was in the ER with heart attack symptoms. My blood pressure is elevated (which I never have), heart palpitations, extreme chest and back pain. EKG and blood work were normal. This literally came out of nowhere, I woke up like this 2 days after 1st dose. Now, reading all these, I’m seeing I’m not alone. Will not be taking this medication again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I am one month into taking the injections. The neurologist suggested this med for me, seeing that I have congestive heart failure, and said that it would be safe for me. My heart function has improved significantly, but after my first injection of Ajovy, I started to experience heart palpitations again. It took me a minute to pinpoint why I started to have this problem again, but now I see it’s because of the Ajovy. I can’t risk my heart health, so I will not be taking this injection again."

• Mug...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Did my first injection in July and started having some heart palpitations. My second one in August caused my heart to feel like it was going to beat out of my chest. This continued non-stop, and I didn't take the injection in September. In early October, I saw the cardiologist I had seen several years ago (heart was fine then). After wearing a heart monitor for a week, it was determined I now have premature beats as well as my heart stopping for several seconds on a couple of occasions! I was put on medicine to try to reduce the premature beats but have been told if it doesn't work I may be looking at a pacemaker!!!"

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I started getting this injection in April 2021. Thought it was making my migraines better, but it was probably the Emgality injection still in my system, because all of a sudden they have become worse! I have been reading the reviews on here and realized I too am having dizziness, heart palpitations, vertigo, elevated BP, always feeling exhausted. I haven’t gained any weight, but I sure don’t want to start! Just wrote my neurologist to say I’m done with this! I wish I would’ve seen these reviews before my injection yesterday, it definitely would have made a difference."

• PMG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have been suffering from migraine for 30 years. Somehow, I was able to manage, but the last 3 years it got worse. I tried Topamax. Very bad experience. I was on a beta blocker. Bad experience. Nortriptyline actually worked well for me. It cut my headaches by a lot. I had maybe 1 headache a week. But some side effects I could not tolerate. Then I switched to Ajovy. My 5 injections were not bad, but my 6th I started experiencing very bad side effects like: heart palpitations, anxiety, muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, off-balance, and constant pressure on top of my head. I notified my doctor, but he said that he was not aware of symptoms like that, so it is only one way to find out. I decided to stop. My last injection was on October 16. Reading reviews here, I noticed that people have similar symptoms and I am not crazy. This is a new medication on the market and there is not enough data on possible side effects. I have to admit that it did help with migraines."

• M B...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "47-year-old male trouble with migraines for the past 18 years, taking Ajovy, very helpful, but the side effects are tightness of chest, aching muscles, bloating, stomach problems, and heart palpitations. As I’m texting this right now, I am going through what I’m thinking is a heart attack all day until I came to the site and saw this. This is my second time taking it, the doctor said there were no side effects. It does help with my migraine, but the side effects are not fun. My chest is so tight I was wondering if I was having a heart attack - I'm 47 years old, fit, walk about 10 miles a day, and jog as well. I am 6 feet, 180 pounds, I’m in shape, and this is not good."