Aimovig (Erenumab-aooe) for Migraine

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects Copay Help FAQs

Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for preventing migraine in adults.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 2,616 comments about Aimovig from MyMigraineTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of individuals and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Monthly self-injection at home feels more manageable than frequent in-office treatments.
Migraine days often decrease, sometimes from daily or weekly to a few monthly.
The 140-milligram dose sometimes helps when 70 milligrams does not last long enough.

Considerations:

Constipation is the most common downside and can become severe or require urgent care.
Relief may take time, and several months may pass before benefits become noticeable.
Breakthrough migraine attacks near the next dose can make monthly timing feel difficult.

How Aimovig Works and How It’s Taken

Aimovig is a type of medication called a monoclonal antibody. It works by blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. In migraine, blocking this receptor helps reduce pain signals and other processes linked to migraine attacks.

Doctors prescribe Aimovig when an adult needs treatment to help prevent migraine. By targeting this pathway, the medication may help prevent migraine attacks.

Aimovig is given as an injection under the skin, typically once a month. With proper training, people can give the injection at home using a prefilled autoinjector or prefilled syringe.

Typical Dosing for Migraine

The recommended dose of Aimovig for migraine is 70 milligrams injected under the skin once monthly. Some people may benefit from 140 milligrams injected under the skin once monthly.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Aimovig

MHT logo These insights are based on 2,616 comments about Aimovig from MyMigraineTeam members.

Members who use Aimovig often say it helps to set realistic expectations, keep track of how you feel between doses, and stay in close contact with your neurologist about side effects or changes in how well it works. Many members also mention practical issues like injection technique and cost support as important parts of making treatment more manageable.

1

Be patient. Improvement can take time for some people.
“It took at least four months for the Aimovig to really start working, but the longer I’m on it, the better I feel!!”
2

Keep track of breakthrough migraine attacks and when they happen.
“I also get migraines about a week before I take the next treatment, as if it is wearing off. That is about all the migraine attacks I get.”
3

Tell your doctor about side effects, especially constipation or new reactions.
“Please be aware of Aimovig’s possible side effects and discuss them with your medical professional. I didn’t. As a result, I became seriously constipated.”
4

Talk to your doctor about injection problems or site reactions.
“The limp was from accidentally hitting a nerve in my left leg from my Aimovig injection in April. Decided to go through the stomach from now on.”

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Aimovig Side Effects

In clinical studies of Aimovig for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults, the most common side effects occurred in at least 3 percent of people treated with Aimovig and more often than with placebo. They include:

Injection site reactions, such as pain, discoloration, itching, or swelling where you inject
Constipation

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Aimovig can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Serious allergic reactions — These can include anaphylaxis and angioedema, which may cause rash, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing.
Constipation with serious complications — Constipation may be severe and may require hospitalization or surgery.
Increased blood pressure — Blood pressure may rise during treatment.
Raynaud’s phenomenon — Reduced blood flow to the fingers or toes can cause pain, color changes, numbness, or tingling.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Aimovig

Amgen, the manufacturer of Aimovig, offers the Aimovig Co-Pay Card. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $49 per month.

To learn more, visit the Aimovig financial support page, or call 833-AIMOVIG (833-246-6844).

What To Know Before Taking Aimovig

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to erenumab-aooe or any ingredients in Aimovig. Do not take Aimovig if you have had a serious allergic reaction to erenumab-aooe or any of its ingredients.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.

Before you start using Aimovig, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Have high blood pressure
Have circulation problems in your fingers and toes

If you miss a dose of Aimovig, take it as soon as you can. Then take your next dose one month from the date of your last dose.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Aimovig, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. There is also a pregnancy exposure registry for Aimovig. You can enroll by calling 833-244-4083 or visiting the GENESIS Pregnancy Registry.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Aimovig?

In studies of adults using Aimovig to prevent migraine, people with episodic migraine had about 2.9 to 3.7 fewer monthly migraine days with Aimovig, compared with 1.8 fewer days with placebo (an inactive treatment) over three to six months. In one six-month study, about 43 percent of people taking 70 milligrams and 50 percent taking 140 milligrams had their monthly migraine days cut by at least half, compared with about 27 percent taking placebo. In a three-month study of chronic migraine, monthly migraine days fell by 6.6 days with either 70 milligrams or 140 milligrams, compared with 4.2 days with placebo, and about 40 percent of people taking Aimovig had at least a 50 percent reduction.

How long does Aimovig take to work for migraine?

Clinical studies measured how well Aimovig worked at three months and six months, depending on the study. In these studies, Aimovig reduced the number of migraine days compared with placebo.

Can Aimovig cause constipation with migraine treatment?

Yes. Constipation was one of the most common side effects in studies, reported in 1 percent of people taking 70 milligrams and 3 percent of people taking 140 milligrams. Serious constipation has also been reported after approval, including cases that required hospitalization or surgery, so people who develop severe constipation should contact their healthcare provider.

What should I watch for after an Aimovig injection for migraine?

Seek immediate medical attention for signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing. You should also contact your healthcare provider if you have severe constipation, higher blood pressure, or symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon, which affects circulation in the fingers or toes. Most allergic reactions happened within hours, but some were reported more than one week after a dose.