Finding the right migraine treatment option: Lealani and Jeff’s journeys
(BPT) - When people hear "migraine," they often think it's just a bad headache. But it's so much more complex than that. Migraine is a disabling and often progressive neurological disease that can affect a person's quality of life and functionality well beyond head pain.
Migraine manifests differently from person to person and can evolve over time. This can make it difficult to find the right treatment and may lead to people staying on suboptimal treatment, feeling like the disease is impossible to control, and impacting their current and future quality of life.
Lealani and Jeff, who endured decades of life disrupted by migraine disease without lasting relief, finally felt hope when they learned about VYEPTI® (eptinezumab-jjmr), a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. After discussing the potential benefits and risks of VYEPTI with their respective doctors, Lealani and Jeff were prescribed VYEPTI in 2020 following its FDA approval.
To mark five years of treatment on VYEPTI, Lealani and Jeff are answering five questions to share perspective and help offer hope to others still searching for the best migraine treatment for them.
What do you think people misunderstand or underestimate about the personal impact of migraine?
Jeff: "The overall impact of migraine wasn't just on me, it was also on everyone around me. I didn't have much of a life since I couldn't work because of my migraine disease. I had literally given up all hope. Eventually, my wife and I divorced. I later remarried, but sadly, that ended too. I had no social life, no dreams left - I'd given up on everything."
Lealani: "My life was spent hiding in dark rooms, missing my children's milestones. I was cycling through significantly frequent migraine attacks every month that cost me two marriages, countless friendships, and forced my kids to basically raise themselves."
What motivated you to try VYEPTI?
Lealani: "The turning point for me was when I missed my mother's funeral and my first grandchild's birth because of my migraine attacks. These were important moments in my life that I missed, and I knew that something had to change. I needed to push forward and find something that would help. That's when I started to research new migraine treatment options, which eventually led me to VYEPTI."
Jeff:"I went through a very dark time in my life. I felt completely hopeless. I had to pick up night jobs because the only time my head didn't hurt was during dark hours. And when disability insurance stopped paying for my treatments, I was broken. Everything started to change for the better when my ex-wife said to me, 'You've spent your whole life in a lab or a doctor's office. Why don't you look into newer approaches to treating migraine?' That was the push I needed to continue researching, and eventually, I found a clinical trial for the drug that would later become approved as VYEPTI. Her suggestion ended up helping to improve my migraine disease."
VYEPTI represents a different approach to other preventive migraine treatments in that it's given by a healthcare provider four times a year (every three months) via intravenous (IV) infusion. In clinical trials of patients with 4 or more migraine days a month, VYEPTI has been proven to reduce monthly migraine days over months 1-3 compared to placebo. However, individual results may vary, and you should not receive VYEPTI if you are allergic to eptinezumab-jjmr or any of the ingredients in VYEPTI. See additional Important Safety Information for VYEPTI below.
How did your life change once you found a treatment that worked for you?
Jeff: "I felt like I was starting to live again. Finding a treatment that helped reduce the number of migraine days I was having each month allowed me the time to get back to doing what I enjoyed, such as playing the piano, computer gaming, photography and studying. Even now, I take everything one step at a time, but I do it with hope for the future."
Lealani: "I remember, shortly after starting on VYEPTI, I wasn't experiencing the debilitating head pain anymore. A few days after my first infusion, my daughter came over to make me breakfast. I answered the door, and she could see it in my eyes. We sat on my bed and cried. She had never known a time in her life when my migraine disease wasn't impacting me."
VYEPTI can cause allergic reactions and can cause high blood pressure and Raynaud's phenomenon to happen or worsen. See below for additional Important Safety Information, and make sure to talk to your doctor about all the possible side effects of treatment.
What does it mean to you to have been on VYEPTI for five years and counting?
Lealani: "Now that I experience fewer migraine attacks, I just want to make the most of every moment and experience as much as I can with my children and grandchildren living my life of yep! That's what I hope for everyone like me - fewer days struggling with migraine and more time spent with the people who matter most to you."
Jeff: "With more migraine-free days, I'm more active, get out more, live life more, say, 'Yeah, I can go do this.' I've had time to reconnect with myself and the important people in my life."
What advice do you have for other people living with migraine who may have lost hope of finding a treatment that works for them?
Jeff: "I've learned a lot about living with migraine disease. My best advice? Don't hide what you're going through. Be open and honest. It may take some time for people to fully understand what you're experiencing, but it helps to be upfront about it and there is support out there to help you find the best disease management plan for you."
Lealani: "My advice for people struggling with migraine is, know you are not alone. Join a support group or talk to family or friends about your migraine experience. Talking and sharing can help you feel less isolated. And, most importantly, advocate for your needs with your healthcare team. If you are not advocating for yourself to reach your goals or speaking up when you're on treatments that don't seem to be working for you, then you're not going to know if something that could work better for you might be out there."
If migraine is still impacting your life, visit VYEPTI.com for a discussion guide to help you talk about your experience with your doctor and discuss if VYEPTI could be right for you.
APPROVED USE
VYEPTI is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not receive VYEPTI if you have a known allergy to eptinezumab-jjmr or its ingredients.
VYEPTI may cause serious side effects such as:
- Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; if you have trouble breathing; hives; or redness in your face.
- High blood pressure. High blood pressure or worsening of high blood pressure can happen after receiving VYEPTI. Contact your healthcare provider if you have an increase in blood pressure.
- Raynaud's phenomenon. A type of circulation problem (Raynaud's phenomenon) can worsen or happen after receiving VYEPTI. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms such as your fingers or toes feeling numb, cool, or painful, or changing color from pale to blue to red.
Before starting VYEPTI, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have high blood pressure; circulation problems in your fingers and toes; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including any prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of VYEPTI include stuffy nose and scratchy throat, and allergic reactions. These are not all the possible side effects of VYEPTI. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visitwww.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For more information, please see thePrescribing Information andPatient Information.
© 2025 Lundbeck. All rights reserved. VYEPTI is a registered trademark of Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. EPT-B-101891
Source: BrandPoint
