What's Your Secret: When Effective Treatments Cause Complex Side Effects

By Holly Harding

1 min read

We finally discover an effective treatment that decreases our migraine symptoms, only to find that it comes with complicated side effects such as significant weight gain, drowsiness, hair loss, or constipation. In this "What's Your Secret" video, Holly shares why this situation can be so challenging and invites our community to share how they've handled this challenge.

Do we stick with a medication that is helping while adding new complications to our lives?

What kind of side effects have you encountered, and how have you decided to proceed in terms of staying with treatment or abandoning an effective treatment due to unmanageable side effects? There are no easy answers here, and we look forward to learning from you in the comment section below.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Prettymomma Member
Like a lot of us, we have been on every medication known to man to help our headache, and the first that something new comes out we try it. Which is hard because you are wondering if this will be the one to help you be rid of migraine and headaches once and for all. I used to try medications side effects and all for about a month, some medications I am only able to tolerate by a few days even and have had to get off of them. My rule of thumb is that if this medication is not helping me I get off of it as soon as possible. As far as if the medication does help... well you have to weigh the consequences. I stayed on a medication way too long because it helped and it tore up my stomach real bad and led to a stomach ulcer and even though I have been off of this med for years, I still struggle with eating, digestion, and heartburn. If the medication is helping sometimes that hurts too... because I have these other problems now as well as a continuous headache. You are right it is a real conundrum. Glad I have you guys though😀
1. Prettymomma Member
 <inline-mention username="Holly Harding" user-id="3755969"/> Yes, my stomach problems are not too much of an issue anymore but I am limited on medications that I can <a href='http://take.It' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>take.It</a> was about 8 years ago when that happened. I am on something daily for my stomach and it is a whole lot better. Thank you for asking! Thank you for being there, you are a real encouragement!
2. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Prettymomma" user-id="7002652"/> So glad to hear you've found some relief with your stomach issues. The overall load of pain and discomfort can be overwhelming when juggling multiple health challenges. Thanks for the kind words- so glad you're here for us as well! Warmly- Holly <a href='http://-migraine.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>-migraine.com</a> team.
azreynolds Member
Hi Holly! I think I've mentioned this before, but since it fits into your topic, I'll mention it again. Since I've had migraines since I was 7 years old (as I recently found out), my neurologist asked me when we started on the anti-CGRP shots and Botox, that I would commit myself to a minimum of one year regardless of whether or not the medication was helping me. He said that people have had migraines for 50 years or more were never included in the test trials of any migraine medication. So there's no way for our doctors to know how we will react to the medication. I'm going on my third year with Amovig and Botox and I have seen an improvement, in both frequency and intensity. Each year it seems to get a little bit better. But there was absolutely no improvement the first year of Amovig or Botox for me, so I'm glad my neurologist explained what he needed me to do. I understand why people only want to try a medication for a few days and then give up on it. I did the same thing with some of the triptans because my side effects were flu-like symptoms that had me on the couch for four or five days, so I wouldn't try that medication ever again! But in the situation of the Amovig and Botox there were no serious side effects so I was more than willing to hang in there even though they were not helping me at all the first year. Anyway, I thought that this would be an interesting perspective on your topic. Hope you are doing well! 
1. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="azreynolds" user-id="3677307"/> Very helpful insights, Annzie! Thank you for sharing. Good to recall that it can be helpful to stick with treatments (under the guidance of our doctors) in case it's a matter of adjusting- and getting through initial side effects that will fade with time. Interesting how, for you, the combo of a CGRP and Botox seems to be improving in efficacy over time. Wonderful and glad for you! Warmly- Holly <a href='http://-migraine.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>-migraine.com</a> team.
CommunityMember9c6a53 Member
I am doing very well on Vyepty. it has decrease both the severity and frequency of my chronic migraines from 15-20 days to as little as 5-7 days per month. i have noticed that constipation is a very real side effect for me. i do my best to drink a lot of water and have added prunes to my morning routine. This seems like a good compromise. 
1. azreynolds Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember9c6a53" user-id="3661211"/> I truly love prunes, but since I'm on a low carb diet, and prunes are so high in carbs, I've found adding flax seed and Chia seeds to my casseroles and baking have helped with constipation too. I also take psyllium caps, and magnesium (6 psyllium caps and 3 types of magnesium). But you're right, drinking lots of water is the most helpful tool of all. None of these other things can work well without lots of water.
2. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="azreynolds" user-id="3677307"/> Great tips, as always, Annzie! Thank you for sharing what is working for you - sounds like a VERY healthy diet! Sending love and warmth your way! - Holly <a href='http://-migraine.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>-migraine.com</a> team.
garyspike1 Member
Holly, Thank you so much for another excellent article. I just spoke about this topic with my nurse practitioner neurologist Elizabeth. I started the once-a-month injection Emgality May 2022. I inject into my thigh, varying the location each month. It was working wonderfully until the March & April injections which caused swelling which was the size of half of a softball. The swelling was inconvenient, but the injections work great. Elizabeth & I decided that some swelling was worth the benefit. Gary Spike
1. garyspike1 Member
 <inline-mention username="Cody Leach" user-id="4536970"/> The headaches are less severe & less often. It is worth the swelling in my leg to have fewer & less severe migraines. Emgality is working.
2. Cody Leach Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="garyspike1" user-id="3743390"/> Glad to hear it. Fingers crossed you will continue getting some benefit from this medication! - Cody (Team Member)
Amanda Workman Moderator & Contributor
I loved this video. Sometimes the videos are a nice break. I have had migraine preventatives that made me gain weight and some that made me so sleepy that I could not stay awake. The abortive medications present an entirely new set of side effects! Those range from nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. The DHE injections caused such bad body aches that after a couple doses, I could not deal with it anymore. - Amanda W (team member) 
1. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Amanda Workman" user-id="3715820"/> Thanks so much for your kind feedback and sharing the ways you've been impacted by interactions with migraine treatments in your life. All we are seeking is relief and instead, we sometimes encounter only more challenges! So glad to be working with and learning from you, Amanda~ - Warmly- Holly <a href='http://-migraine.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>-migraine.com</a> team

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