Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) is a prescription drug that’s used to help prevent migraine symptoms. Aimovig does not come in a generic or biosimilar form. This article explains how Aimovig works, how it’s injected, possible side effects, and more.

Aimovig is used in adults to help prevent migraine episodes. Migraine is a condition that may cause a severe headache along with other symptoms. These can include nausea, vomiting, and problems with speech or vision.

To learn more about this drug’s uses, see the “What is Aimovig used for?” section below.

Aimovig basics

Aimovig comes as a solution inside prefilled syringes and prefilled autoinjector pens. You’ll give yourself Aimovig injections under your skin.

Aimovig contains the active drug erenumab-aooe, which is a biologic medication. A biologic drug is made from parts of living organisms. The drug isn’t available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.)

Read on to learn about Aimovig’s side effects, uses, and more.

Like most drugs, Aimovig may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Aimovig may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you may be taking

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Aimovig. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Aimovig can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Aimovig’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Aimovig that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Aimovig can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Aimovig, call your doctor right away. However, if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Aimovig that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Aimovig may cause. In addition to the information below, you can also refer to this article about Aimovig’s side effects.

Constipation

You may have constipation with Aimovig. Mild constipation was a common side effect in studies of the drug. And severe constipation has been reported since the drug became available for use.

With mild constipation, you’ll typically have less than three bowel movements per week. These bowel movements may be painful. You may also pass hard, dry stools.

With severe constipation, your symptoms may be so severe that your condition needs to be treated in the hospital. It’s possible that you might need surgery to relieve severe constipation.

What might help

Talk with your doctor if you have any symptoms of constipation while using Aimovig. They can suggest ways to relieve your symptoms.

For example, your doctor may recommend that you drink plenty of water or eat foods that are high in fiber. (Examples of these foods include raw vegetables, dried fruit, and whole grains.) Doing these things can help relieve constipation.

Your doctor can also tell you if your constipation is severe enough to go to the hospital for immediate treatment.

Long-term side effects

The length of time that Aimovig’s side effects last is likely to vary from person to person.

For many drugs, most side effects are short term. They’ll usually go away after your body gets used to the drug or shortly after you stop taking it. With Aimovig, there weren’t any long-term side effects reported in initial studies of the drug.

But other side effects of Aimovig, such as high blood pressure, have been reported since the drug became available for use. And this condition can cause complications that are long term. This can include damage to your heart or arteries (blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart).

What might help

If you have questions about possible long-term side effects of Aimovig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Reactions at your injection sites

You may have certain reactions at your Aimovig injection sites. This was the most common side effect reported in studies of the drug.

Examples of injection site reaction symptoms include:

  • itching
  • redness or deepening of skin color
  • pain
  • bruising

What might help

If you have a reaction at an Aimovig injection site, it’ll usually go away within a few days after your injection. But if you have reactions that are bothersome or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to reduce these reactions.

Before injecting Aimovig, remove it from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This can help lessen any discomfort with the injection. Keep Aimovig in its original packaging, out of direct sunlight. And do not microwave it.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Aimovig. While allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Aimovig, it can still happen.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Aimovig. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Aimovig that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strengths

Aimovig comes as a solution inside prefilled syringes and prefilled SureClick autoinjector pens. You’ll give it as an injection under your skin.

Aimovig is available in two strengths:

  • 70 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL)
  • 140 mg/mL

Recommended dosages

You’ll give yourself one injection of Aimovig once per month. You should take your dose on the same day each month.

For details about Aimovig’s dosage, you can refer to this article.

Questions about Aimovig’s dosage

Here’s a list of commonly asked questions related to Aimovig’s dosage.

  • What if I miss a dose of Aimovig? If you miss a dose of Aimovig, inject your missed dose as soon as you remember. Then you’ll take your next dose of Aimovig 1 month from the date you took the missed dose. For example, if you remembered to take your missed dose on the third of the month, you’ll take every dose after that on the third of the month. If you have questions about what to do when you miss a dose of Aimovig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Will I need to use Aimovig long term? If you and your doctor determine that Aimovig is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll take it long term.
  • How long does Aimovig take to work? Aimovig starts working right away to prevent migraine symptoms. But it may take several doses before you start having fewer migraine attacks.
  • Should I take Aimovig with food? You can take Aimovig with food or without it.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. The drug’s cost with insurance will depend on your specific plan for coverage. For details about Aimovig’s cost, you can refer to this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Aimovig manufacturer’s website to see if they have support options.

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Aimovig when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Aimovig.

Does Aimovig cause anxiety, depression, fatigue, or hair loss?

No, this isn’t likely. Anxiety, depression, fatigue (low energy), and hair loss weren’t reported as side effects in initial studies of Aimovig.

But it’s important to remember that migraine can cause many different symptoms, including depression and fatigue. Aimovig is used to prevent migraine headaches. So you may have these symptoms while taking the drug. But these symptoms may be related to migraine, not caused by Aimovig itself.

People who’ve taken Aimovig after it became available for use have reported hair loss.

But hair loss can happen because of stress, and stress can also trigger a migraine headache. So you may have hair loss related to migraine or stress while taking Aimovig. But these symptoms may not be caused by Aimovig itself.

If you have these symptoms with Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can help figure out if these symptoms might be caused by Aimovig, your condition, or something else such as stress.

How does Aimovig work?

Aimovig is used to help prevent migraine symptoms. Migraine is a condition that may cause a severe headache along with other symptoms. These symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and problems with speech or vision.

Aimovig’s mechanism of action (the way the drug works in your body) is to block the activity of a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP can play a role in causing migraine symptoms. By blocking CGRP, Aimovig helps prevent migraine episodes.

If you’d like to know more about how Aimovig works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop taking Aimovig?

No, it isn’t likely that you’ll have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Aimovig.

Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that may happen after you suddenly stop taking a drug. But withdrawal symptoms weren’t reported in studies of Aimovig. It’s important to not change or stop your Aimovig treatment without your doctor’s recommendation, though.

To learn more about what to expect with Aimovig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Aimovig use lead to weight gain or weight loss?

No. Weight gain and weight loss weren’t side effects reported in studies of Aimovig.

Other medications that help prevent migraine headaches can cause weight changes as side effects. For example, propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL) may cause weight gain. And topiramate (Topamax) may cause weight loss.

If you’re concerned about weight gain or weight loss while taking Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to reach or maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

Does Aimovig cause memory problems, diarrhea, insomnia, or muscle pain?

No. Aimovig isn’t known to cause memory problems, diarrhea, insomnia (trouble sleeping), or muscle pain. These side effects weren’t reported in studies of the drug.

However, diarrhea and insomnia are possible symptoms of migraine, which Aimovig helps prevent. So you may have diarrhea and insomnia while taking Aimovig. But it’s possible that these symptoms may be caused by migraine, not by Aimovig.

If you have any of the side effects above while taking Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to ease your symptoms.

Is Aimovig used for cluster headaches or vestibular migraine?

Aimovig isn’t currently approved to treat cluster headaches or vestibular migraine. But the drug may be prescribed off-label for these conditions. (Off-label use means prescribing a drug for a condition other than the one it’s approved to treat.)

With cluster headaches, you may have painful headaches that happen in clusters. A cluster describes several headaches that happen over a short period of time.

With vestibular migraine, you don’t usually have headaches. Instead, you may have dizziness or other migraine symptoms that can last for several hours.

If you’re interested in using Aimovig for cluster headaches or vestibular migraine, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the treatment that’s best for you.

If you have migraine, your doctor may prescribe Aimovig. It’s a migraine medication that’s used to prevent migraine headaches in adults.

Migraine is a condition that may cause a severe headache along with other symptoms. These can include:

Aimovig works to prevent migraine symptoms by blocking the activity of a certain protein in your body. To learn more about using Aimovig for headaches and other symptoms caused by migraine, talk with your doctor.

You may want to know how Aimovig compares with other migraine treatments, such as galcanezumab (Emgality).

To see a side-by-side comparison of Aimovig and Emgality, check out this article. Read on to learn more about other alternatives to Aimovig. Also, be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you.

Aimovig vs. Ajovy

See this article’s section called “Aimovig vs. Ajovy” to read about the similarities and differences of these drugs.

Aimovig vs. Botox

Read “Aimovig vs. Botox” in this article to learn how these drugs compare with each other.

Your doctor will explain how you should take Aimovig. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Instructions for taking Aimovig

Aimovig comes as a solution inside prefilled syringes and prefilled autoinjector pens. You’ll give yourself Aimovig injections under your skin. You can inject Aimovig into your thigh, upper arm, or belly.

You’ll take your Aimovig injections once per month, on the same day each month.

Before injecting Aimovig, remove it from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This can help lessen any discomfort with the injection. Keep Aimovig in its original packaging, out of direct sunlight. Do not microwave it.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you how to give yourself Aimovig injections. You can also watch a video with step-by-step instructions for injecting Aimovig on the drug manufacturer’s website. You can also read Aimovig’s prescribing information.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Aimovig and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Aimovig affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

Before taking Aimovig, it’s important to talk with your doctor about other medical conditions you have and your overall health.

These and other considerations are discussed below in more detail.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Aimovig, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Aimovig.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

There aren’t any known interactions between Aimovig and other medications. The manufacturer of Aimovig didn’t look at interactions during studies of the drug. But this doesn’t mean interactions with Aimovig can’t happen.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about possible interactions that may occur with use of Aimovig.

Warnings

Aimovig may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Aimovig. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

  • High blood pressure. Aimovig can cause high blood pressure. If you already have this condition, Aimovig may increase your blood pressure even more. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure before starting Aimovig treatment. They can advise if it’s safe for you to use the drug.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aimovig or any of its ingredients, you should not take Aimovig. Ask your doctor about what other medications are better options for you.

Aimovig and alcohol

It’s generally considered safe to drink alcohol while taking Aimovig.

But keep in mind that drinking alcohol can be a migraine trigger. If alcohol typically triggers your migraine symptoms, you’ll probably want to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Aimovig.

If you drink alcohol, your doctor can recommend whether alcohol may be safe for you to drink while you’re taking Aimovig.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known for sure if Aimovig is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either, it’s best to talk with your doctor before starting Aimovig treatment. They can advise if it’s safe to use the drug while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do not take more Aimovig than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you take too much Aimovig

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Aimovig. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have questions about using Aimovig to prevent migraine headaches, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:

  • Should I use other migraine treatments while taking Aimovig?
  • How is Aimovig different from other drugs that prevent migraine symptoms?
  • What are the storage instructions for Aimovig? Can I store the drug out of the fridge?

To learn more about Aimovig, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Q:

Can Aimovig cure my migraine symptoms?

Anonymous

A:

No, Aimovig is not a cure for migraine. And it’s not meant to be used to treat a migraine episode that’s already causing symptoms. It’s used to prevent migraine symptoms from occurring.

There currently is not a cure for migraine. Medications such as Aimovig can help prevent migraine symptoms from occurring. And there are other prescription medications that you can take when you feel a migraine attack starting to cause symptoms.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about these medications. And they can help develop a migraine treatment plan that works best for you.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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