Ajovy and Pain: What Users Say

• Key...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "The Ajovy shot caused every single joint in my body to stiffen, swell, and become inflamed. Ankles, wrists, fingers. My entire back and every single disk from my neck down to my tailbone seemed swollen and inflamed. Just to touch my spine seemed like it was on fire. The pain became unbelievable. I have never had pain like this before in my life. I have spasms that go down my legs and arms. It is now April 18th, and my arms feel like dead weight. I have to perform my job duties like this. The coordination in my hands has diminished quite a bit. I am concerned that this shot has caused permanent damage. I belong to a migraine support group on FB and found another person who took her second Ajovy shot who is having the same symptoms as I am. I live in constant chronic pain daily now. This medication needs to be pulled off the market immediately."

• MsP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "My husband injected my dose of Ajovy 3 days ago. It’s a tiny insulin-sized needle. Easy to give in the stomach. That night I had very bad angina. I didn’t sleep, and if I did doze off, it felt like I fainted in my sleep. Would wake up thinking it was the end. Later the next day, all faded, and I was fine. Until that night, and a migraine set in. Day 3 I can’t get rid of it. Fioricet and Advil and Nurtec are all weak against this strong pain. I’m laying here absolutely miserable. My migraines are excruciating with this feeling of exploding brains if I dare move, and sounds are like knives. I was at least hoping for lessening severity. Didn’t happen."

• diz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "The neurologist put me on a monthly Ajovy injection after many other meds failed. Was told the main side effects would be soreness at the injection site and a bit of nausea. The experience has been terrible for me. Made me extremely nauseous, dizzy, weak, exhausted, and I've been having tons of pain in my legs, they ache and hurt all the time, even when I'm doing nothing. Leg pain has been so bad it hurts just walking around my home. The doctor did a spine MRI to rule out MS and I'm being referred to a rheumatologist to check for fibro or arthritis. They downplay the side effects, but Ajovy has been awful for me. I'm discontinuing and pursuing Botox."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "After 20 years of suffering almost daily headaches and migraines, I was so damn excited to be told by my neurologist that an injection was now covered under the PBS in Australia! I picked up Ajovy straight after my appointment and injected myself later that day… Two days post-injection, I broke out in hives. The rash was mostly on my legs, but I was itching from head to toe. I was prescribed a short dose of corticosteroids, which settled the rash and helped with the itching, but that was only the beginning. One week post-injection, I woke up with severe pain in my wrist and knee. This pain has moved around to different areas of my body, but it’s mostly in my joints. It started in my wrists and knees, then moved to my jaw, and now arms and hips. It’s absolute agony, worse at night, and I’m struggling to get out of bed in the morning. I am so fatigued and also filled with anxiety about how long this pain will go on for. No migraines or headaches - but at what cost?"

• Gig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I took my first dose of Ajovy on January 12, 2022, at my doctor's recommendation because the Aimovig shot I had been taking was no longer covered by my insurance. Let me also state that I had excellent results with the Aimovig shot. Not so with the Ajovy shot. I have been absolutely miserable since the day I injected the shot. Aside from the injection site redness, which is annoying but tolerable. My migraines have increased so much that I have had a migraine every single day since I took the shot! My other migraine meds work for a short while, but the migraine always returns. My neck and shoulders are in constant pain, I have joint pain, foggy brain, and memory issues that I haven’t had before. My caution to anyone considering taking this medication is to really think about all the reviews and side effects we are writing about. This is my first and last dose. Not worth the pain I am going through. This company is not honest about all of the possible side effects."

• 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."

• mig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I have suffered from migraines for over 20 years, which have been kept under control with the highest dose of propranolol until I hit the dreaded menopause. Since then, my life has been unbearable. I've been put on the highest dose of amitriptyline, and the side effects are horrendous and didn't help migraines. Topiramate's highest dose didn't stop migraines either. Candesartan 20 mg helped a bit, but I still suffered from severe migraines. Now on Candesartan and the first injection of Ajovy. Worst combination. Migraines have increased in severity and frequency, I can't sleep, and electric shock pains in my head and thunderclap pain is 0 to 10. Neck pain, jaw pain, heavy puffy eyes, pressure in the head, dizziness, low mood. The list goes on and on. I'm at my wit's end. My neurologist wants me to take a second dose, however, my GP does not agree. I don't want the second dose, I can't work, can't function, and am in constant pain. No empathy from a neurologist. Seems to think I'm just to get on with it."

• KZa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "40-year-old female. I've been suffering from chronic cluster headaches for 20+ years. Just started getting migraines in the last 5 years. I take nortriptyline and Lamictal for prophylactics, and Maxalt and Cambia for rescue meds. Seems everything has stopped working. Had my 1st shot of Ajovy 2 days ago. I'm so exhausted and sore all over already. I don't know if I can do a 2nd dose. My 3 little boys destroyed my house 2 days in a row because I just... can't. Do these side effects get better? I haven't had a headache yet, but I guess I've gotten so used to them I can at least keep up with the boys. The fatigue is very worrisome."

• Joj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I had two rounds of Ajovy because I was having constant vestibular migraines. Until I took Ajovy, my symptoms had been unabated for over two months, but they hadn't been particularly painful: severe dizziness, significant cognitive impairment, tinnitus, and discomfort of the eyes. After the first shot, I added regular migraine symptoms to the list: light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and pain. After the second shot, the symptoms morphed again, and I started having a sensation that is very hard to describe: it was as if my brain was being squeezed from different directions and it was crackling under the pressure. About 8-10 weeks after the last shot, the weird sensation went away, but I still had the mix of vestibular and regular migraines."

• Mic...
• May 1, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have had a strange history with migraines. I had them for a whole year in high school almost every day, and then they completely disappeared for three years. Then they came back with a vengeance. I’d have them about 4 times a week. Unable to move, nausea, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, etc. I started Ajovy a month ago, and I got my second injection today. Does anyone else have excruciating pain when you inject yourself? It feels like acid burning me! It is a subcutaneous injection, and those hurt less than your average vaccine or blood work, but this is like nothing I have ever experienced. Anyway, in my first month, I had one day where I was extremely dizzy, and I had no idea why, but I see here that this is a common trend. I feel nausea on and off. I am slowly gaining weight, but I’m eating healthier than I had before I was on Ajovy. I got my second injection today, and it was so painful. I’m laying in bed, and my whole body is sore and in pain. My feet have terrible circulation."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Yesterday I took my first Ajovy shot, and minutes after, I started to feel really, really bad... all of a sudden, I felt high, really hot, lost vision and hearing, had crazy pain all over my body, and fainted. My boyfriend called the emergency immediately because he thought I might be experiencing some strange allergic reaction and told me later I was having spasms while I passed out for a few seconds. When the ambulance came, I was already feeling better but still very dizzy and weak, and couldn't communicate clearly. They told me this drug is very new and they didn't know what they could do, and if I was not experiencing trouble breathing, then I should just go to sleep and wait for it to go away. I got so scared for my life and thought I ruined it in just a few seconds of taking the shot. While I was fainting, I thought I was going to die. After reading all the other reviews, I am scared of the upcoming side effects..."

• Ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve had 2 full months on Ajovy now. My headaches have been reduced from 20 per month to 11 per month! While I still have some additional days with prodrome symptoms and no headache, this has also reduced significantly. I can concentrate (less brain fog) for longer periods now, have a little more energy, and want to take part in my own life for the first time in more than 2 decades!! I experienced slight site bruising from one injection, and fatigue and body pain for a couple of days after both. But having FM/CFS makes it hard to tell if those symptoms are side effects or not. I am cautiously optimistic that this will be a long-term solution for me and am very thankful for Ajovy’s effectiveness. Way to go, Teva!"

• AJO...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 2, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I used to get at least 5 migraines a week. After taking Ajovy, my migraines have completely disappeared. I'm so glad to have found a medicine that actually works. The only challenge is getting myself to inject myself every month; it's a little painful."

• Kee...
• July 24, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Helped reduce headaches, but I have no energy. Napping daily. I also have more pain and stiffness in lower back and neck. I bloat very easily now. I won’t take another one-month shot. Too bad. But I’d rather have my energy back and a few more headaches."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "My neurologist prescribed Ajovy in January 2021, due to frequent migraines after a semi-truck running me off the road in March 2019. I was worried about side effects, so I didn't take it right away. In March of 2021, my primary physician convinced me that 'the side effects are not near as severe as the antibiotic you have taken.' So I had it. Then 10 days later, I started developing itchy hives all over my body. It started below the knee on the leg where my doctor injected the Ajovy in my thigh. It eventually affected both legs below the knee, and everything that touched my skin anywhere on my body itched or caused pain. My arms also developed itchy hives. My back. My chest. My legs were so bad I couldn't stop scratching, I would wake up scratching. They hurt so bad sometimes I could barely walk. For several months, I spent 4-6 hours a day in the bath. The bath was the only thing that would help reduce, not stop, the itching and pain. Now it's almost 7 months, and I am still suffering."

• JK1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Ajovy for about 6 months. It was like a miracle. I'm not burning all of my PTO on migraines anymore. Not sure if this is related, but a couple of weeks ago, I aggressively used a muscle roller over my Ajovy injection site (over my right quad) for a few days. Next thing I know, I am in so much pain for days and days. My quad starts to spasm constantly when I walk, this terrible gripping and twisting sensation every few seconds. My back hurt. I also got a very bad case of cutaneous allodynia just over my right quad and IT band, which I’d never had before. Then, 2 days ago, I got cutaneous allodynia from my neck down to my knees. I felt cold and fatigued, and everything hurt, but no other symptoms. It's mostly gone now, but it was completely debilitating. For the last 3-4 months, I also started having very brief bouts of dizziness that last between a few seconds and maybe 5 minutes. That part is manageable. It only happens once every few days."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Less than an hour after I injected the Ajovy into my leg, I started experiencing terrible pain in both legs, arms, hands, the back of my neck, and had chest tightness. My panic attacks have gotten a lot worse, the only positive is not getting as many headaches as I was before. I definitely will not be getting another injection."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I took my first injection today. About half an hour later, I started experiencing pain in both arms. I am feeling very tired, and my chest is feeling tight. My head feels so heavy to hold up. Is this normal? I am highly sensitive to medications, so far I am not liking this medication."

• Ski...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "The first seven weeks of Ajovy were horrible, tripled my migraines. Then suddenly, 19 days in a row without one. I didn't start with the three shots per quarter dosing, so that may be part of it. Auto injector needle definitely more painful than Aimovig. Injection site swelling noticeably worse than Aimovig. However, Aimovig never gave me 19 days off in a row. If this keeps up, I'll be happy, but I was pretty unhappy there for a while."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Dosage: Injection 1x monthly. Ease of use: easy. Benefit: minimal. Side effects: allergic reaction at injection site, pain, redness, or a hard lump where the medicine was injected. Continued to have more than 15 migraines a month."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Ajovy helps the first week, I only get 1-2 migraines. The second week, I still get 3-5 migraines, but the Ubrelvy will knock those out. At about 17/18 days after the injection, I get a nasty migraine that just gets increasingly bad, and the Ubrelvy doesn't do anything but make it worse. So I get 17 or 18 decent days, and 10 to 11 of absolute pain. If I take it during the acute migraine, it'll help, similar to Toradol. I seem to have more bad days with it than without, and the pain is intense the last week before the next injection. At this point, I only take it to make that stop, and my neurologist will be switching me to something else at my next appointment. It's not a helpful medication."