Anyone having weight GAIN with Qulipta?

- Thank you so much for chiming in with this question. Everyone is different in terms of the way they experience and respond to treatments. Interestingly, while Qulipta has been known to cause weight loss, the overall class of drugs to which Qulipta belongs (CGRPs) are known to cause constipation and gut-related challenges. So, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what you are experiencing. There are a lot of CGRP options out there (Nurtec, Ubrevly, Aimovig, Emgality, Ajovy, and Vyepti to name a few) - so if this one is causing you side effects you do not like (but is helpful in decreasing your attack frequency/severity) it might be worth experimenting with another option. Here is a link to our resources that discuss Qulipta side effects: https://migraine.com/search?s=qulipta%20side%20effects. And a link to the various types of CGRP options: https://migraine.com/cgrp-new-direction-migraine-treatment. Let us know what you think of this and any other questions you have. We are here to provide information and support anytime. Warmly- Holly migraine.com team

Hi Holly,
I have tried the injectable CGRP preventative meds. None helped as much as Qulipta. And all of them caused severe constipation. Aimovig gave me terrible anxiety and heart palpitations. And hair loss! Emgality put so much weight me. Same with Ajovy. With not much, if any, preventative value.
Qulipta does make a difference for me! I still get daily migraines but the intensity and severity gives me back a better level of quality of life. BUT! The constipation!! Beyond! I’m trying everything I can find to help with it. I don’t want to have to go off the ONLY preventative that has ever had any real benefit for my migraines. And the supposed “weight loss” promoted by the drug maker and Drs..is not what I am experiencing. Bloated pot belly (likely from the severe constipation) and all-around weight gain is what I’m seeing. Maybe someone in this community has some ideas about how to deal with such severe constipation? I’m doing flaxseed, prunes, all forms of magnesium, stool softeners, psyllium husk. I tried other things like Miralax-awful! Made things worse. Citrucel, Metamucil and other types of products for constipation. Nothing. I’m on 60mg of Qulipta. Up from 30mg since that wasn’t working very well. 60mg is what works for me but I’m guessing the constipation gets worse with the higher mgs. I can deal with the extreme fatigue expected. I take it at night. But it’s looking like I may have to taper off this med that works because of the seemingly impossible to treat constipation. 😫

Hi
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I'm sorry you are dealing with debilitating constipation, I understand how difficult that is. Many years ago I was taking methadone and dealt with extreme constipation. I tried everything I could think of including prescription medications to help combat it and nothing worked. Then I found the recipe for Yakima Valley Paste I'll share here. It worked wonders!


Yakima Valley Anti Constipation Fruit Paste
1 lb pitted prunes
4 ozs senna tea leaves (at health foods store)
1 lb raisins
1 lb figs
1 cup lemon juice
1. Prepare tea; use about 2 1/2 cups boiled water, add to tea leaves and steep for 5 minutes.
2. Strain tea and remove tea leaves.
3. Place 2 cups of tea, or amount left, in large pot.
4. Add all of the fruit to the tea.
5. Boil fruit and tea for 15 - 20 minutes, until soft.
6. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Allow to cool.
7. Use hand mixer/blender or food processor to turn fruit and tea mix into a paste.
8. Place in glass jars or Tupperware and place in freezer (paste will not freeze but will keep forever in freezer also very long in fridge).
DOSAGE: 1 - 2 Tablespoons per day

Let me know if you give it a try, Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team

Thanks Nancy for the recipe! I will definitely try it before deciding whether to go off Qulipta. I forgot to mention that I too was given several RX meds for constipation. They didn’t help much either. I have a comorbid condition and the med for that also causes constipation. It took a long time of experimenting but I had that under control very well. Until the addition of Qulipta! Now it’s pretty unbearable. I’m in discomfort 24/7. I’m hoping your paste recipe does help! Thanks again.