The New Migraine Preventive Drug–What You Need to Know

Aimovig™ (Erenumab) for Migraine Prevention.

Should You or Should You Not?

Below you find my description of what this new drug does and how and several comments from migraine sufferers that are worthy to read. All of this comes from my public person Facebook page, so you can find it all here. I copy-pasted the discussion as it is at this moment.

After reading this, you will see why you should tell all your friends to stop informing you of this new drug and leave you alone. This drug is not for you.

You Should Not

Angela A Stanton PhD

There is a new drug—not new, for providers this has been center focus on the back of every journal of neurology and I was asked about this last year at the AAAS conference where I presented to geneticists about migraine if I knew of this drug. The news is that now it appears in newspapers and is promoted like the best new cupcake on the shelf. And because it is brand name, and your doctor will earn money for prescribing it, get ready for the onslaught of doctors pushing you on it.

It is a monthly injection: CGRP inhibitor. Here is what I already wrote to several migraineurs who emailed me about what it is:

It is a CGRP blocker: it blocks a peptide that is a vasodilator (reduces blood pressure) and it functions in the transmission of nociception, where CGRP is a receptor for voltage dependent calcium channels. Now think back to what Topamax, Gabapentin, & Pregabalin (typical drugs that migraineurs passionately hate) do…

What this drug does: it blocks the same channels but for a month in one shot.

It is a once-a-month shot, so if you got messed up from one shot, you are in agony for a month and cannot stop it… it is also brain degenerative the same way as Topamax is, because functionally it is it’s equivalent.

Migraineurs have a hyper sensitive (hyper sensory) brain that needs to use these channels more often to keep up with the much extra stimuli; thus the migraine-brain needs higher electrolyte mineral density to cope with the hyper sensory sensitivity. This drug blocks the coping mechanism and is a “dumbing down” action drug. It causes permanent changes because it blocks neuronal communication and increases blood pressure for a month without a chance to break it if it harmed you–and harm it will because it stops your nerves, both centrally and peripherally, from being able to operate their voltage dependent calcium channels! It is a systemic voltage dependent calcium channel blocker so all brain and body functions that drugs like Topamax mess up, will be messed up.

If you want to fully understand what migraine is, read my book “Fighting the Migraine Epidemic: A Complete Guide” and learn why I would give a $million to NOT get this drug into my body (and I am a migraineur).

So please don’t ask me about this new migraine drug (or any other drug) ever!

Migraine is 100% preventable without a single medicine in your life. It is a metabolic disease, just like type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, IBS, and many more, caused by your body’s inability to digest the foods you eat without harm. It is preventable by changing your lifestyle. Thousands have already gone through my protocol and are migraine free. If you want to see some proof, visit my wall of testimonials at www.stantonmigraineprotocol.com/testimonials/and read them for yourself.

Please share this to migraine sufferers so they know that there is a free (both money-free and drug-free) alternative that works for life without any side effects.

Comments

Melissa Styffe Schweitzer I was just thinking this morning after hearing that it is being released soon that 6 months ago I was in bed on disability and hoping that they would release the drug soon so I could go back to my life! Since all the articles I had read made it sound like a miracle drug.
If someone had told me that when the drug came out I would be pain-free, off all medications and not even a tiny bit interested in taking it just by changing my diet I would have never believed them!!! Thank you Angela Stanton for giving me my life back 

Angela Stanton Wow what an awesome testimonial for the working of the protocol and for your commitment and trust Melissa! ❤ Thank you for trusting me. ❤❤

Kristin Elizabeth IngramYesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!! So happy to see this Melissa!!!! ❤❤❤

Laura Riley I was actually supposed to go on a clinical trial for this drug starting last week, I got dropped from the trial as I haven’t had enough migraines, this is all thanks to the Stanton migraine protocol!! Looks like it’s saved me from more unwanted drugs in my system 👍

Angela Stanton Congrats for being dropped Laura!! Now this is a special case. Lol. ❤

Michelle Speer Thank you so much for the explanation! Wish I understood it all better. People are coming out of the woodwork telling me about this and it’s frustrating because I’ve already told them that what I’m doing is working.

Michelle Speer Sorry this might be a dumb question, you say it is a vasodilator (reduces blood pressure), then later that it increases blood pressure for a month, just a typo?

Angela Stanton Michelle there is never a dumb question. The CGRP receptor is a vasodilator but this drug “inhibits” (blocks) that action, thereby it causes a lack of vasodilation and that’s vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure.

The reason for this is logical actually: migraineurs have very low blood pressure (when not in pain) and often benefit from caffeine, which is a vasoconstrictor. However, the reason why they benefit from increased blood pressure by vasoconstriction is because their blood volume is low.

Low blood volume means they are dehydrated. Some migraineurs drink no water at all so they are very dehydrated when they join my protocol. The first thing I do is ask every person to start hydrating and I give a formula to calculate how much water they need and they need to take salt with water. So by drinking enough and taking salt to increase electrolyte mineral density, this vasoconstriction is not needed at all.

Rodney Marks The even scarier part of this drug is the cost, $10000/year. So even if you wanted to try it, who can afford it. Stick with Angela.

Angela Stanton Wow Rodney. That is huge. I hope no one goes on this monster drug. It is a horrific one and can cause major problems. But, if someone is willing to take this risk, and pay this much, instead of simply changing their diets, then there is nothing I can do but catch them when they want to quit and are damaged either temporarily (if they are lucky) or permanently (if they are unlucky)

Comments, as usual, are welcomed and are monitored for appropriateness.

Angela

About Angela A Stanton, Ph.D.

Angela A Stanton, PhD, is a Neuroeconomist focusing on chronic pain--migraine in particular--physiology, electrolyte homeostasis, nutrition, and genetics. She lives in Southern California. Her current research is focused on migraine cause, prevention, and treatment without the use of medicine. As a forever migraineur from childhood, her discovery was helped by experimenting on herself. She found the cause of migraine to be at the ionic level, associated with disruption of the electrolyte homeostasis, resulting from genetic variations of all voltage dependent channels, gates, and pumps (chanelopathy) that modulate electrolyte mineral density and voltage in the brain. In addition, insulin and glucose transporters, and several other variants, such as MTHFR variants of B vitamin methylation process and many others are different in the case of a migraineur from the general population. Migraineurs are glucose sensitive (carbohydrate intolerant) and should avoid eating carbs as much as possible. She is working on her hypothesis that migraine is a metabolic disease. As a result of the success of the first edition of her book and her helping over 5000 migraineurs successfully prevent their migraines world wide, all ages and both genders, and all types of migraines, she published the 2nd (extended) edition of her migraine book "Fighting The Migraine Epidemic: Complete Guide: How To Treat & Prevent Migraines Without Medications". The 2nd edition is the “holy grail” of migraine cause, development, and prevention, incorporating all there is to know. It includes a long section for medical and research professionals. The book is full of academic citations (over 800) to authenticate the statements she makes to make it easy to follow up by those interested and to spark further research interest. It is a "Complete Guide", published on September 29, 2017. Dr. Stanton received her BSc at UCLA in Mathematics, MBA at UCR, MS in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University, PhD in Economics with dissertation in neuroscience (culminating in Neuroeconomics) at Claremont Graduate University, fMRI certification at Harvard University Medical School at the Martinos Center for Neuroimaging for experimenting with neurotransmitters on human volunteers, certification in LCHF/ketogenic diet from NN (Nutrition Network), certification in physiology (UPEN via Coursea), Nutrition (Harvard Shool of Public Health) and functional medicine studies. Dr. Stanton is an avid sports fan, currently power weight lifting and kickboxing. For relaxation (yeah.. about a half minute each day), she paints and photographs and loves to spend time with her family of husband of 45 years, 2 sons and their wives, and 2 granddaughters. Follow her on Twitter at: @MigraineBook, LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelaastantonphd/ and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DrAngelaAStanton/
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32 Responses to The New Migraine Preventive Drug–What You Need to Know

  1. Jessica Dempsey says:

    I am suffering debilitating side effects from Aimovig three months after stopping injections. I wish I had never injected this poison. It is criminal the only side effect listed is constipation! The vertigo and crippling anxiety improved but I am still suffering greatly with fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog and insulin resistance. My internist put me on a low carb keto type diet since my blood sugar was spiking and dropping constantly from Aimovig blocking CGRP in my pancreas. It’s helping some but I am still so sick. My question is will I suffer permanent damage? Has anyone recovered after stopping Aimovig? I know the half life is 28 days. Do you know anyone who improved and did it take them the full five months to return to normal? I’m already in touch with a lawyer. My neurologist was paid $16,000/yr to prescribe Aimovig and told me my side effects could not be caused by it after I nearly died in ER (it was the only drug I was taking).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Jessica,

      Very sorry to read about your story. I applaud your thought of suing; you may want to consider a class action lawsuit. I have no idea how to start such but there are thousands of people in Facebook CGRP inhibitor groups and yet to read a post by satisfied and happy migraineurs. The side effects are horrendous and fatalities have also occurred. You may want to join some of the CGRP migraine groups on Facebook just to learn the experience of others.

      Otherwise I have had so far a handful of people join my migraine groups and they have–after 6 month or more–seen healing and are migraine free now without any medicines. Migraine is completely preventable, so there is no reason to take any medicines. Please join our starter group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MigraineSufferers/

      I am looking forward to seeing you there,
      Angela

      Like

      • Jessica Dempsey says:

        I purchased your book and will never touch another migraine medicine again, not even a triptan, after Aimovig nearly killed me. In a cruel twist of irony, my migraines have not returned since stopping Aimovig. I’m following a low carb/keto diet (I can’t drink milk per your protocol due to my insulin resistance from Aimovig). It is discouraging that I am facing three more months of suffering before this poison leaves my body. Did any of the people you heard from see improvement before the 6 month mark? I have been having severe muscle pain in my arms and legs and my CK levels were elevated but started lowering. My internist theorizes that my CGRP receptors are finally turning back on but they now flooded my body with too much CGRP after being blocked by Aimovig for so many months. CGRP regulates muscle fibers. Does this sound plausible to you? I’m just grasping for answers and hope since so few doctors know anything about this drug. There will be class actions and I will not rest until these drugs are off the market or have black box warnings. I’m praying I do not die.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Dear Jessica,

          Let me explain a few things about the brain so you can understand “receptor” and why/how it may or may not be possible for it to be repaired. The first critical information is that every single cell in our body is replaced–except brain cells though there can be some improvement there as well. Some body cells live for a very short time–like red blood cells for 10 days or so–others a few months, like skin cells for about 3 months, intestinal lining cells 2-3 days, stomach I believe also 2 days, bones a year, I think the liver is also a year, and so forth. So most every cell renews in our body several times in our lifetime, reducing in speed as we get older. Brain cells are the only ones (most, not all) that stay with us for our whole life–or at least this is how we know it at the moment.

          Now, for the receptors. Receptors, be it CGRP or any other receptor, are made of proteins, forming a ring-shaped tube by electrical forces. This is hard to envision but think of it as a long chain of pearl necklace that is twisted around an invisible pipe, where each pearl is separated from the other by electrical forces. This receptor is not a fixed object and as long as the electricity within the individual pearls is unchanged, it is stable, but the moment something disrupts one pearl, it changes the structure of all pearls and destroys the shape of the receptor, rendering it non-functional.

          The thing that causes this one pearl to be kicked out is the CGRP inhibitor. There is really no better way of explaining it in a visual sense. So once that one pearl is dislocated, the entire pearl necklace collapses since now there are no forces to keep it in place–like the invisible tube around which it was wrapped suddenly is pulled out. There is absolutely no guarantee that once you stop taking the receptor inhibitors the pearl necklace can return to its original configuration. none whatsoever. It is possible that is may be repaired, particularly in young people, but no 100% guarantee.

          In other organs the damage to these receptors may be faster; the fact that other organs also have CGRP receptors (so far I read of alpha and beta receptors but there may be more) is relatively new and so not sure if anyone has any information about their recovery. However, since these are not in the brain and are not directly associated with the nervous system, repair is more likely and is dependent on the cellular replacement speed of that organ.

          Because the brain is so adaptive, a healthy diet change that allows the brain maximum recovery can in many cases repair the damage even in the brain. We can see this in seizure where the repair of the myelin stops seizures, often for life. How long this takes? No one knows. These drugs are too new to know. However, whatever length of time the recovery may take, one just must go for it. You are welcome to join my starter group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MigraineSufferers/ or the keto group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KetogenicDietforMigraines/ and e will help you get the nutrition the right way and help you remain migraine and medicine free for life. ❤

          Angela

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        • Jessica Dempsey says:

          Thank you for the explanation. This is obviously absolutely terrifying to hear. I took Topamax years ago and recovered from that nightmare. I’m hoping I can do the same from Aimovig. I am a 44-year old lawyer and very analytical and while I appreciate these scientific explanations, they also send me into a panic that I will never recover or feel normal again. Since there is absolutely nothing I can do at this point but wait for Aimovig to leave my system and hope that my CGRP receptors regenerate, I am looking for encouragement and stories of recovery. I will follow your protocol and hope for the best.

          Liked by 1 person

        • Jessica, I totally understand you. I am hoping that you can make a full recovery and you will try–we will be there to help you. The brain needs to recover every which way before it can recover from an injury like CGRP inhibitors cause. When we embark on the healing journey with ketosis, everything that can heal heals but it takes time and there is an order to healing. The order starts elsewhere and not on the latest attack because you have had migraines for some time. So there had been many damages caused way before the CGRP inhibitor.

          You will see definite improvement and a recovery to some degree–maybe fully. We will only know if you try. My group will help you and we will take it from there.

          Angela

          Like

        • Jessica Dempsey says:

          Thank you. I am definitely trying and have no desire to touch another migraine medicine. My vitamin d and iron levels are low so my internist has me taking vitamin d and slow release iron (every other day). My GI tract is already upset from switching to keto and Aimovig. Can my body handle the iron pills and will they help me feel better? I am just terrified of completely destroying my GI tract. On some of the forums people are reporting they still suffer nausea and low appetite ten to 18 months after stopping Aimovig which completely terrifies me. I’ve lost so much weight already on keto and have “skinny” PCOS so I did not need to lose weight.

          Liked by 1 person

        • Jessica, iron pills are going to be unnecessary once your body is back in health. One of the problems you may have is B vitamin deficiency, which often causes anemia but it is a false anemia. Adding iron will not solve the problem. You need to have vitamins: B2, B6, B9, B12, and iron, ferritin, transferrin, homocysteine, thyroid hormones, and calcium tested to understand why you are anemic. Your low vitamin D hints at trouble with some of these I listed.

          If your GI tract is upset from switching to keto, it is likely either because you are following the wrong keto diet recommendations or because you may be taking some medicine(s) that interact with ketosis. Keto for migraineurs is very different from keto for other people. I am writing a book about that. There may be other issues as well plus iron supplements are usually not handled well by the body, in general.

          Some people do report nausea and other problems after stopping but not one in my migraine groups does so. Stopping something is not going to help if the body is not supported for healing in the background. Likely you solution is not keto by keto carnivore, something many of my migraineurs practice. Please join if you haven’t yet.

          Angela

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        • Jessica, not sure if you get notified for the response you received from Laura. Please read.

          Angela

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    • Laura Barry says:

      Hi Jessica. You said you wanted to hear stories of recovery! I am 40 years old. I was on Aimovig from Dec 2018 until July 2019 for period and weather-related migraines (6-11 days per month, depending). My side effects on the drug were increasingly severe vertigo and constipation that resulted in a distended stomach by the time I found Angela and quit the drug. I had always been thin with a flat stomach, but I looked like I was 5 months pregnant, and stomach pain was a sad trade-off for migraine pain. I have now been on her Protocol for 5 months, so the Aimovig is finally getting completely out of my system. In the meantime, my migraines have been decreasing every month (I never had zero migraines on Aimovig), and I am hopeful that I will get to zero in the next few months while my body continues to heal. Joining Angela’s group is like taking a free online college course; it is a challenge, but you can move at your own pace, there are many people to help you, and you will learn so many fascinating things about your body. Suddenly, everything to do with migraine will make sense! You will know when you’re going to get one and why, and what to do to get you through it and continue on the road to healing. I no longer lie in bed with a migraine thinking “Why is this happening?” I know exactly why, and I no longer feel hopeless or out of control. Meanwhile, the only reason I took Aimovig was because it listed two side effects – soreness at the injection site and constipation. I would *NEVER* have taken it if I had known exactly what it was (Thank You Angela!) I don’t know if I could get in on a class-action lawsuit since I didn’t report the side effects to my neurologist, I just quit the drug and never went back to him, but this needs to happen to protect other victims of this horrible drug!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Thank you Laura for your amazing response! I hope Jessica will read this. ❤
        Angela

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      • Jessica Dempsey says:

        Thank you, Laura! This gives me hope. We were on Aimovig almost the exact same time period. My last injection was 9/21/19. I am so thankful you are feeling better five months out. I’m on a keto low carb diet and Botox and those are working so far. My migraines have not returned (sometimes I feel them start but they are short-lived). I’m still having GI tract pain, my bloodwork is abnormal and I just have a general malaise/depression/brain fog. Did your GI tract heal from the Aimovig? Do you recall feeling gradual improvement starting three months after injection? The vertigo and crippling anxiety have left thank God, but the hypoglycemia is just terrible. I also fear my hormones are still off causing me to feel depressed and fatigued. I am having regular periods. Any other tips or advice or treatments for how you healed are appreciated! I’ll join you all on FB and already bought the book.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Jessica, wrt your sugar crashes/hypoglycemia, have they tested c-peptide and fasting insulin? I know that the CGRP receptors were inhibited in your pancreas and I am wondering if your pancreas is back online properly. Hypoglycemia implies high insulin, so overdrive from your pancreas.

          I find that nearly all migraineurs–even without the negative effects of the CGRP inhibitors–have insulin issues and I now test in the Facebook group a 5-hour blood glucose and blood ketone test for everyone–including children. I find that 99% of the migraineurs have hypoglycemic events and some serious sugar crashes. I modified the keto diet and also created a special carnivore diet to help these migraineurs reverse their problems without getting hypoglycemic. It seems to work very well and once the 5-hour test shows no problems, they can move to a regular keto diet–albeit the keto diet I designed is slightly different from the generally applied keto diet.

          Angela

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        • Jessica Dempsey says:

          I have had every possible test and am under the care of an excellent internist who I know personally and who has me on zero meds while Aimovig clears my system. I cannot remember my fasting insulin number. I have PCOS and Im sure that combined with the CGRP being blocked in my pancreas is causing the hypoglycemia which many people are reporting on Aimovig. I also suspect my cortisol is high and impacting insulin. My reverse T3 is extremely elevated indicating severe stress. How do I access your carnivore keto or modified keto diet? I purchased your book, is it in there? I’ve been eating a very low carb keto diet for just over a month. It’s miserable, but has helped with the blood sugar spikes and crashes. I am still suffering fatigue and GI upset and general malaise from cutting carbs and the stress of endless bloodwork, crippling side effects, no answers, etc. Is there any way to help my pancreas come back online?

          Liked by 1 person

        • Jessica the nutritional programs are not in the book in full–some mention of the basics but not complete. I have 2 Facebook groups but you are keto so you should consider joining my keto group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KetogenicDietforMigraines/ If you prefer to not join and need guidance, I also do private consult under contract.

          Normally before migraineurs move to the ketogenic diet, they complete the 5-hour test because it is important to see how their hypoglycemia manifests. Because reactive hypoglycemia and sugar crashes are very common with migraineurs–even without the pancreatic issues you face–starting off with the ketogenic diet is not usually the best way to start.

          However, to address your question: the pancreas can be brought back online in most cases where it’s functions were not blocked. It can be done successfully by giving it a rest. Rest means fasting–intermittently or longer, and maintaining a time restricted eating schedule. Type 2 diabetes can completely be reversed by this technique–this is now shown in clinical trial and is finally recommended by the ADA Standard of Care for T2D in 2019 and 2020. So the pancreas has flexibility and can heal. However, in these cases there was no CGRP inhibition. I don’t think there is any information about cases like yours since they are not known to exist.

          As you know, according to the pharmaceutical trials list of adverse reactions, there is no such as what you experienced. I have little time these days but as an attorney, you may want to request all CGRP adverse reports from the FDA from 2017 through today. I have done something like that for a medicine before. It takes them a few weeks to send you the paper copies of all reports. Or you can compute them yourself by downloading the data for all drugs and reorder by drug and see the sum and also the kind of adverse reactions reported.

          I was told by someone, who is member in several CGRP Facebook groups, that in the CGRP groups she is part of, the admins and group owner have cleared all old comments with adverse reactions and are removing any new complaints. They also harass people to only report positives. I cannot verify this since I am not member in those groups–I will check into the groups where I am a member and see what I find, provided I am still in there and they haven’t kicked me out.

          There is lots to do and lots of people will continue to get hurt. I think a class action lawsuit is in the air. Here is one bit of a help: https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/flu-migraine-drug-events-report-160543/
          some info here (scroll past flu to CGRP: https://www.ismp.org/resources/quarterwatchtm-includes-new-data-quarter-4-2018-and-quarter-1-2019-focus-four-new-drugs
          possible long-term adverse effects: https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/pain/headache/stake-possible-long-term-side-effects-cgrp-antagonists

          These are god places to start.

          Angela

          Like

      • Jessica Dempsey says:

        And please call a plaintiff’s lawyer!!!! You do not need to complain to your neurologist to file suit. Being harmed by the drug is enough. There will definitely be class actions over these CGRP drugs but it will take years and likely many more deaths and permanent disabilities. The more of us who call plaintiff’s lawyers, the quicker they will move. It is criminal that so many of us took this drug after being told there was only constipation as a side effect. We never would have injected it if we knew it could kill us or disable us for such a long period! I will not rest until these drugs are off the market or have black box warnings!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Heather says:

    I stupidly agreed to take a shot of aimovig in my neurologists office (she pushed a sample on me after dismissing my concerns). I have had terrible side effects and had no idea it stayed in our bodies that long. I’m concerned because my husband and I want to try for our 2nd child and I’m worried about it still being present. Any thoughts? It’ll be a little over a month after getting it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ouch Heather, very sorry. From what I have heard from migraineurs who got a shot, it can take up to 6 months for a single shot to clear. The half-life is 29 days, but the other half that remains also has a 29-day half-life and so on. One of my migraineurs took more than 6 months to recover from one shot. I cannot advise you, of course, and I don’t think anyone knows how this would affect an fetus. You can only do your best.

      You may want to join my Facebook migraine group where we provide support for you and help you with questions. The group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MigraineSufferers/

      Good luck to you! Best wishes,
      Angela

      Like

  3. Mari says:

    Hi. My name is Mari and I have suffered with migraines for 28 years due to a severe neck injury. I had my first (and last) Aimovig injection 10 days ago. Within the first hour of receiving this injection I broke out in hives, developed mouth ulcers, had extreme chest pain, rapid heart rate, increased BP, extreme stomach pains, all over body aches, electrical impulses coursing throughout my body, insomnia, etc, etc. I knew nothing of these side effects. Constipation was the only one mentioned. I feel worse. I had an 81.5 hour migraine which started within an hour of receiving Aimovig! I am beyond miserable and want this out of my system!! Is there anyway to hurry that process up??

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Mari,

      Very sorry to hear the horrific reaction you had to Aimovig. Indeed, 99% of the adverse effects are not on the label for various reasons, one of the most important reason is that prior to large-scale use, the side effects are not know. I hope you were able to report your adverse reactions to the FDA reporting system here. It is necessary for individuals to report since without that, the FDA has no information. So please do if you have not yet.

      To help you learn how to prevent migraines, please join my Facebook migraine group here or if you wish not to join, at least read my book, which will help you see what migraine is and how you can treat one if one sneaks through and how to prevent them.

      Looking forward to seeing you in my group,
      Angela

      Like

  4. Kathryn H says:

    I have been on Aimovig for 7 months. I started with 140 mg and now take 70 mg. I have had complete remission of Migraine which I’ve suffered with for 26 years. I used to take Imitrex almost daily. My only effect has been constipation. Even though it works wonders for me I do not want to continue taking it because no one knows the long term effects, just like statins. I just found out about you and your protocol yesterday and cant wait to read your book. I have been doing a nearly zero carb diet for almost 2 months.and found out about you through a member of a zero carb fb page and listened to your fantastic podcast from biohackers lab. I was wanting to quit Aimovig but was fearful I’d be back on the daily migraine track. I now feel like there is a better option for me .Thank you

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Kathryn,

      Wonderful that you are giving the protocol a chance. Indeed, I have worked with well over 5000 migraine sufferers by now and all on the protocol(s) (I have more than one) have become migraine free–provided they stick with the protocol. As a migraine sufferer of over 30 years myself, I am super happy you joined our group and look forward to helping you learn the “how to” and the “why” so that you too can become migraine free and medicine free. 🙂

      See you in the group,
      Angela

      Like

  5. Alla Lyulkin says:

    Hi Angela,
    I just asked to join your group on Facebook. I suffer from migraines or headaches for many years over 25 I think or maybe even more. I am taking Aimovig since 08/11/18 and like you sad the honeymoon is over. It is maybe worked 3 months at most and now it is back full sforce. My next shot is this Saturday, 02/23/19 and I would like not to do it. Should I just take 70 mg (one shot) since I am on 140 mg from the very beginning. Afraid to go cold turkey but also do not want to shot myself with more poison.
    Please let me know your thoughts.

    Sincerely,
    Alla L.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Alla,

      Very glad that you joined my migraine group. I am not sure that stopping counts as “cold turkey” since the half-life of the drug is 29 days. That means that after 1 month of use, you still have 50% of the drug in you, even when you get the next dose.

      This means that the drug builds up: you have 0.5 dose in you when you get the 2nd monthly shot; you have 1.5 doses in you total with the 2nd shot right after you received the 2nd shot. That too has a half-life on 29 days, so 29 days later you reached half-life of the 2nd dose but the first is still not fully out of you… so you have about 0.25 dose of the first shot, 0.5 of the 2nd shot and 1 of the 3rd shot the day you get the 3rd shot, so 1.75 doses… and so on, it builds up. We have a member who took Aimovig for 7 months and then joined us when she quit it. She said that her doctor calculated that it will take her something like 149 days to have the drug completely be cleared out of her body!

      So using the knowledge about how long the half-life is, not taking a dose simply means you have 70 mg (half of the 140 mg) in you for this coming month without injecting another dose.

      I cannot advise you, of course, I am just informing you about what the drug label says about the half-life and what the doctor suggested to someone else in my group. I have many people now in the group who have stopped Aimovig–I think some also one of the other brand name as well.

      Once you start the protocol, its benefit will be pretty fast–pending on other medicines you may be taking and how long you have taken those. We will help you get through this. ❤ Have no concern.

      See you in the group,
      Angela

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  6. S. Morgan says:

    I am on my 7th month of Aimovig. It has decreased my migraines by at least 3/4s. I am very pleased by the results. The few comments above are, I’m guessing, the few that have had bad (or horrible) side effects. I hope the testimonies of the people above doesn’t scare anyone off from trying this drug. It’s changed my life. I’m on my 41st year of suffering from migraines. I’d try just about anything, and have. Shirley’s testimony is indeed to say the least, frightening. Could it be from any other medicine, or combination of meds? I’ve never heard of anything like this and am so sorry this happened. All of the comments above wouldn’t stop me. My adult life has been one big migraine. It has affected everything and everyone. I’m sorry for everyone above and anyone that has to suffer this condition.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Stephanie,

      I am very glad to hear that Aimovig is working for you. There are always people for whom a drug works but usually the majority of people (for all drugs!) get no benefits at all or get hurt. This is referred to NNT (Number Needed to Treat). It is too soon to establish the true NNT for Aimoving or other CGRP inhibitors. The current official “estimation” of the NNT for Aimovig is 6, see here.

      What this means is that 6 people have to be treated in order for 1 person to get any benefit (any, meaning not total migraine relief). The remaining 6 will either just not benefit or get hurt. It appears, based on the many complaints coming into the FDA adverse reporting system, that this NNT will greatly increase as the drugs had a little more time on the market and more people had dared try it. So far, my personal estimation of the NNT is over 100, granted this is just an estimation and only based on the number of people complaining and not knowing how many are not complaining.

      So you are one of the lucky ones! And I hope your luck continues and you will not have any negative adverse reactions later. 🙂

      Best wishes,
      Angela

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  7. Karen Beck says:

    Can amovig make you “hyper” excuse my word choice? That’s how I feel after 3 weeks into 1st injection. If possible please respond asap, next shot coming today & I’m leaving to go out of country tomorrow. Also waiting for return call from my neurologist. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Pingback: Aimovig for Migraine; this drug is not for you | Stanton Migraine Protocol

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