If you get a migraine on even one day each week, that adds up to 52 days in a year. Ask your doctor about Emgality right away; don’t wait.
What is Emgality?
Emgality is the brand name (trade name) for galcanezumab, which is prescribed to treat or prevent episodic migraine headaches in adults.
The main ingredient of Emgality is the biological medicine galcanezumab. Biologic products are created from elements of living organisms. There is no biosimilar version of Emgality available. Galcanezumab is exclusively available under the brand name Emgality.
You will receive an injection of a substance known as emgality. Both a prefilled syringe and a prefilled pen are available. You can administer your own Emgality injections after your doctor demonstrates how.
How Does it Work?
Emgality (galcanezumab) is a monoclonal antibody. It inhibits calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) ligand, a protein that is inside of your body. CGRPs are released by your nerves during migraine and cluster headache attacks. Your brain’s blood vessels swell as a result of CGRPs, which might produce pain. Emgality (galcanezumab) can reduce pain from cluster headaches and prevent migraines when these proteins are blocked.
Typical Dosage
Before taking your Emgality dosage, It is of valuable importance to get informed about this drug before taking it, regarding its dosage, side effects, pros and cons, and how it may interact with other drugs that you may be taking.
- Preventing migraines: The usual dosage is 240 mg (two injections, each 120 mg, given immediately after the other) administered under the skin once when you initially start the drug. Thereafter, administer 120 mg intravenously once each month.
- Episodic cluster headaches: The usual dosage is 300 mg (three injections, one after the other, of 100 mg each), given under the skin once at the beginning of your cluster period. Then, provide 300 mg subcutaneously once a month until the end of your cluster period.
You can also find all this information online, including resources like PrescriberPoint, which provides information about Emgality and other medications.
What Side Effects Does Emgality Have?
Like the majority of medications, Emgality can have minor or major side effects. Some of the more frequent side effects that Emgality may have are listed below. These lists do not include every potential adverse impact. You can learn more about Emgality’s potential adverse effects from your doctor or pharmacist. They may also offer suggestions for how to lessen these effects.
You are more likely to have the following side effects if you are between the ages of 18 and 60, do not take any other medications, or have any other medical conditions:
- The most frequent side effect of Emgality, which was reported by 18% of users, is injection site reactions, which include discomfort, redness, swelling, or itching near the injection site. Constipation, exhaustion, dry mouth, hives (urticaria) or a rash, itchy skin, vertigo, or dizziness are other adverse effects that have been recorded in 1% to 10% of patients. There have also been reports of anti-drug antibodies, hypersensitivity reactions, and other gastrointestinal side effects (including bloating).
- Emgality has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Breathing difficulties, urticaria, rash, anaphylaxis, and angioedema are among the symptoms. If a significant response happens, Emgality should be stopped and the proper therapy should be given.
- Emgality must be injected subcutaneously (under the skin) to prevent stomach deterioration.
- Emgality operates in the lining of the brain rather than the actual brain since it is a big molecule, which causes it to take longer to begin acting.
- Emgality must be stored in the fridge until usage. Emgality should be let to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before administration. Do not use a heat source, such as hot water or a microwave, to warm Emgality. Emgality needs to be shielded from sunlight and shouldn’t be shaken. Emgality can be kept at room temperature for up to 7 days at a maximum of 30°C (86°F), but it shouldn’t be put back in the fridge after that and should be thrown away if it isn’t used.
- The risk of giving Emgality to pregnant women cannot be determined, and there is no information available on the effects of breastfeeding on a newborn
Conclusion
Emgality is an injectable drug that can be administered by the patient themselves subcutaneously (under the skin) once a month for the treatment of cluster headaches or the prevention of migraine in adults.
