• Changing from Vivgart to ULTOMIRIS

    Posted by Mark Cox on January 26, 2025 at 3:21 pm

    Has anyone recently changed from Vivgart to ULTOMIRIS…

    3 years ago I started out with IVIG after being diagnosed with MG and it worked really well except for the migraine headaches. After two more infusions I went to Vivgart… It worked great also but would only last 40 days into a 50 day infusion cycle and my MG symptoms started to return… I’m 64 and still travel a lot for my job… It was rough getting through the airports in the last 10 days of my Vivgart cycle and insurance won’t pay for sooner cycles so I recently changed to ULTOMIRIS after a rigorous preparation period of meningitis shots, insurance run arounds etc… I’m in my 53rd day of a 60 day infusion cycle and starting to feel some of my MG vision, swallowing and body issues flaring back up similar to Vivgart. I have felt weaker through the cycle especially in the legs in the first 30 days with memory issues, also picking up more colds and flu’s including Covid… I told my neurologist of these things and he says to give it time and another cycle as it takes more time for ULTOMIRIS to set in according to his other patients…

    I read the same thing in a forum or somewhere that ULTOMIRIS takes longer to set in and If he hadn’t told me this I would have turned tail and went back to Vivgart already… And probably still will if the next cycle feels the same… I’m also aware everyone’s bodies react differently so I’m certainly not throwing rocks at either medication…

    In short I was reaching out to the forum to see if anyone else had switched from Vivgart to ULTOMIRIS and experienced any of the issues I’ve been experiencing…

    Thank you..

    Mark

    Jodi Enders replied 1 week, 2 days ago 8 Members · 11 Replies
  • 11 Replies
  • Keith

    Member
    January 28, 2025 at 2:27 pm

    I haven’t changed yet. My neurologist brought it up but I’m staying with Vyvgart for now. I’ve been able to use the 4 injections in a month and then 2 months off. I do get a bit tired toward the end of the 60 days but I complement this with one 60 mg Mestinon which seems to work. I’m a bit older than you (81) but I am able to play golf twice a week. The MG is being accompanied with spinal stenosis and bad hips. Isn’t aging fun.

    • Mark Cox

      Member
      January 28, 2025 at 6:24 pm

      Thanks Keith, like you I’ve enjoyed Vyvgart, only wish it lasted a bit longer to get me through the infusion cycle.

      Not only did my insurance deny shorter infusion cycles but my neurologist told me the FDA wouldn’t approve Vyvgart for less than 50 day cycles in concern to potential skin rashes…

      Hopefully they’ll find a way to improve Vyvgarts strength for the full 50-60 day cycles.

      Thanks for sharing

  • CAPacheco

    Member
    January 28, 2025 at 5:24 pm

    After experiencing an MG crisis (hospitalized and treated with Plasmapheresis), I had IVIG for 2 months, then I was infused with Vyvgart. Had 2 rounds (4 weekly infusions) in 2023. The first went very well and I started feeling much better, strength and stamina restored, no more double vision or wonky eyes. About 2-1/2 weeks before the second round was scheduled symptoms returned. Less than 3 weeks after round 2, I experienced all my symptoms returning. My new neurologist recommended Ultomiris, which I started in April 2024. I did very well with improved strength, etc. but after my last session I noticed it’s not “lasting” so I am scheduled to get an increase in the dosage. Hopefully that will help. Long story short — I did much better with Ultomiris than Vyvgart. I’ve remained on daily Pyridostigmine throughout but with Ultomiris, I have been able to reduce the dosage. Small miracles. Only real issues I’ve had after Ultomiris infusions are severe headaches for about 2 days and breakouts – pimples, just like a teen again. 😕

    • Mark Cox

      Member
      January 28, 2025 at 6:15 pm

      Excellent information, thanks for sharing…

      • Debbie

        Member
        February 4, 2025 at 6:28 pm

        I started cellcept knowing Vyvgart was not lasting long enough. Unfortunately it takes 8-12 months to work. Anyone with issues start it now. We all know how quickly the years go. So the combo of cellcept and vyvgart have changed my life. I do the shots 4 weeks on and 4 off. And now I can manage. Without the cellcept Vyvgart stopped working. Ultimaris was a big mistake for me. I ended up in the hospital because it simply did nothing for my symptoms. I hope this helps

  • greynold

    Member
    January 28, 2025 at 6:16 pm

    I was on Vyvgart infusion for nearly a year. It worked well for me but it only provided MG symptom relief for 14 days beyond the last infusion. I was able to get Vyvgart Hytrulo injections that take less than 20 minutes to administer. The only thing I would offer to you is that Ultomiris, along with other new treatments require blood lab tests and preventive vaccinations, some a little alarming, before and during treatment that made me re-consider going to another new treatment. I did stay with Vyvgart Hytrulo and have felt improvement with MG Symptom relief as I have had more than a year of treatment cycles. Having had negative side-effects from other prescription drugs most not related to my MG treatment, I’ve been reluctant to experiment with newer classes of MG drugs until my Neurologist feels comfortable prescribing them for me.

    Good luck,

    greynold99

    • Mark Cox

      Member
      January 28, 2025 at 6:46 pm

      Thanks for sharing, It’s taken me close to a year to follow my neurologist recommendation of ULTOMIRIS just for the same reasons that you mention such as require blood lab tests and preventive vaccinations, some before and during treatment that caused most of my hesitation…. I wish I had heard of Vyvgart Hytrulo before changing to ULTOMIRIS to at least give it a try… Thanks again for sharing as I’ll keep the forum updated on my ULTOMIRIS journey in the months to come…

  • staytuned

    Member
    February 2, 2025 at 8:48 am

    Great feedback all !

    I’ve heard that some MG patients have entered remission due to changes in diet / nutrition. Switching to whole foods (vegan?) helps combat MG better than a normal diet that incorporated processed foods. Can anyone share their experience ?

  • cburton

    Member
    May 21, 2025 at 10:18 pm

    Hi, My name is Chris.

    First time writing on this forum, just a brief history on myself. I was diagnosed last September, I was having difficulty breathing and being a heart patient I was quickly to blame my heart as the problem. After several test my heart was eliminated as the problem. A week later I took myself to the hospital and they to couldn’t find anything wrong and was releasing me to go home, I asked to be tested for MG and they said there was no way that I had MG. I told them that I had an aunt back

    in 1970 was diagnosed with MG, they told her that she wouldn’t live past her 30’s. She passed in her early 60’s. My brother was diagnosed with MG at the age of 70 and Passed at 75. The hospital pulled me back in and ted me and I was positive for MG at the age of 73. I carry one gene for MG but not the two required. Anyway I was put on Vyvgart 4 weeks on 4 weeks off, on my fourth session and after the second infusion within hours I felt my body shutting down. I finished the last two infusions hoping it would boost my energy back ( didn’t work). I’m currently waiting for the IVIG infusion authorization from my insurance , hoping it will help. But as far as your question

    I met a women who I became friends with switched from Vyvgart to Ultomiris a month ago and she said she feels as healthy as a horse.

    Best of Luck to you and everyone else who has this dreaded disease.

    Chris

    • Jodi Enders

      Member
      May 22, 2025 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story. It’s great to see you reaching out to connect with others on this journey. I’m sorry to hear about your struggles getting a proper diagnosis.

      It’s encouraging to hear about your friend’s positive experience with Ultomiris. I hope your IVIG infusion gets approved soon and that it brings you some much-needed relief and energy.

      Wishing you all the best as you navigate this.

      -Jodi, Patient Advocate

  • Mark Cox

    Member
    May 21, 2025 at 11:05 pm

    Chris, as first stated in my original post, I was put on IVIG first and it worked the best for me by far for six months but gave me severe migraine headaches that we could not control. Then I went to Vyvgart and it worked great 40 days of a 50 day cycle but it ran out in the last 10 days with MG symptoms starting to reoccur, mostly eyes, swallowing and stumbling around some times falling… I changed to ULTOMIRIS 9 months ago… That was quite a regiment just getting set up for it to prevent meningitis etc. and much more expensive than Vyvgart….

    I have not had a good experience with ULTOMIRIS from the beginning. Please keep in mind my neurologist has several patients on it and really like it but most importantly our bodies are all different and do not always react the same. ULTOMIRIS lasted 60 days for me no problem as it was recommended for my work travel but the side effects for me were tough feeling like my mg got much worse especially in respiratory, wheezing now, body weakness mostly in the legs along with mood swings from rage to depression that I never experienced before and getting very little sleep feeling like a coffee buzz… But again, that’s just me and my body’s story just turning 65 years old having MG for 4 years now and still believe the second Covid shot triggered my mg as I began having all the full blown mg symptoms with 3-days later… but that’s only my theory for my self as it could just be coincidence but I do know there’s a lot more people with MG than there was four years ago before Covid..? I am going back to Vyvgart Hytrulo next week as it will make my work travel much easier to plan whereas I can pack it with me during travel.. I’ll keep the forum updated on my progress for anyone thinking of changing… I hope the IVIG works well for you and your body without the migraines or other and suggest drinking lots of of fluids and use a large flush of insulin to help keep the headaches down… Other than the side effects from IVIG, I honestly felt very normal for having full blown mg… Best of luck my friend…

Log in to reply.