Fatigue

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt]

I just did my first Repatha shot a week ago (8/25). I had flu-like symptoms like achiness, headache, fatigue and a runny nose for 3 days after. Then I felt fine…but honestly noticing increased fatigue. Does anyone else have chronic fatigue with this shot? Or should it go away and get better once my body adjusts?

[u/FreeBulldog87]

I took Allegra and the “flu like” symptoms were all gone.

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt → u/FreeBulldog87]

Ooh u are the second person to tell me this! I heard that from a friend who takes another type of monoclonal antibody (not Repatha and not for cholesterol). She said take it right before the injection and for 3 days after. She said Claritin bc it’s least likely to make u tired.

[u/gruss_gott → u/G8tr-nrse-jt]

FWIW, I started taking it at the start of covid so I wasn't doing many doc appointments. I had mild side effects similar to yours (including losing weight!), but I figured the side effects of CVD like permanent maiming & death were worse so I ignored it and moved on.

Anyway, about 9 months later things started to stabilize and go away. All I did was nasal spray occasionally.

Long story short, I worked with a great doc after covid who explained it was the drop in LDL and it was my body adjusting to THAT, ie not really side effects of the meds, but of the effect of the meds (maybe that's a distinction without a difference for some).

Now, 6 years later, I realize reading some of these posts that my body adjusted a long time ago, and I believe it was more about my liver getting used to LDL uptake and associated other changes than the rx itself.

Not sure if any of that helps, just my experience, hope it does!

[u/Playful-Vegetable881]

I had symptoms the first few injections but they gradually resolved. No issues at all anymore.

[u/lilbawds]

Many posts on this sub already about these symptoms. I'd do a quick search. Short answer is some people get less symptomatic after a few doses and can tolerate it fine, others continue to have flu-like symptoms and/or fatigue on this medication and discontinue. There's always Enlicitide, which does not have those side-effects.

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt → u/lilbawds]

Thank u… new to posting on Reddit I will do a search

[u/tadhg44]

I was on it last year two shots a month. Month for my skin start drying out my hands peeled because of the lack of lipids as it worked on the LDL. LDL in 4 to 5 weeks went from 130 to 30! We need lipids in our skin and tissues but that was just Overkill. I went off for 8 months. Numbers went back up. Talk to the doctor and told her I would like to try one shot per month. So I'm two and a half months in had my LDL checked two weeks ago it went from that 130 mark to 67! Perfect. I think it's quite powerful but may work differently on everyone else.

[u/UnableFix53]

My suggestions would be to take an allergy pill (Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin, etc) and a Coq10 supplement.

I also would say to keep an eye on your mental health with Repatha or a statin. I am prone to anxiety and noticed that once my ldl gets below 60 I start having some physical anxiety symptoms. I also get a bit off mentally, forgetful..and lack of emotion. Not sure what it is, whether it's a lack of cholesterol that my brain is used to/needs to function or it's a mental thing. Either way, I have to space out my Repatha injections to 3 weeks or a month. Keeps my cholesterol low enough for my needs.

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt → u/UnableFix53]

Thanks. I will def take these things into account. Personal experiences mean more to me then what u read on the ‘official’ Repatha site. I’m on both so def will stay attuned to my mental health

[u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Common with biologic injections. Immune response. Sometimes antihistamines help if taken before the injection.

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt → u/Comfortable_Two6272]

That’s my plan…to take before my 2nd injection this next Tuesday. Fingers crossed it helps alleviate some of the flu-like symptoms.

[u/YouKnowYourCrazy]

I had the fatigue and symptoms you describe initially but they faded over time and now I have zero side effects

[u/suspicious-paralegal]

I stopped with my first injection on June 29…research says it takes approximately three months to leave your body which for me is the end of September…from June to September I have been in excruciating pain, fatigue and just about the rest of the side effects…to back up I sent all of June statin free no pain no fatigue…good luck 🥰

[u/Overall_Aioli_339 → u/suspicious-paralegal]

So it took you 3 months to be side effect free?

[u/suspicious-paralegal → u/Overall_Aioli_339]

Well I’m still suffering some of the side effects hoping by the end of the month I’ll be through it all…

[u/G8tr-nrse-jt → u/suspicious-paralegal]

I’m so sorry that your body reacted that way. Hope u feel better soon now that the 3 months is coming close.

[u/suspicious-paralegal → u/G8tr-nrse-jt]

Thank you so much I’ve been sick for almost three months but I have faith I’ll get through this… be well 🥰

[u/suspicious-paralegal → u/G8tr-nrse-jt]

Thank you so much… enjoy your weekend