Migraine headaches are a medical condition that frequently affects millions of people across the world. Often referred to as a cluster headache, a migraine in adults can be debilitating and affect daily life, with some sufferers being absent from work, university or school because of the pain. If you suffer from migraines, do consult your doctor or pharmacist as there is hope for relief with Emgality migraine prevention medicine. This article will explain all you need to know about how the Emgality migraine treatment works to help prevent your migraine attacks before they start. It also discusses side effects, instructions for use and safety information about this new form of treatment for migraines.
Looking for a natural, non-pharmaceutical, treatment of migraine headaches? Poor neck posture builds unnecessary tension that can create cluster headache, so try following this step-by-step Guide To Fixing Your Posture ».
Did you know that around 90% of people who suffer from migraines have close elder relatives who also suffer from the condition? It affects 1 in every 7 adults in the United States and it may be surprising to learn that migraine in adults is three times more common in women than men. If you are suffering from ‘headache days’ or have more than one migraine days per month then tell your doctor or visit your healthcare provider for medical advice or medical help as soon as possible.
This article has been approved and fact checked by Reuters.
What is Emgality medicine?
Emgality is a preventive treatment of migraine for chronic migraine headaches which is subcutaneously injected into the upper arm of patients (the injection site) prescribed at 120 mg/ML by a medical professional. This treatment contains a medicine called galcanezumab gnlm (Source*) and it works to prevent migraine attacks from ever occurring in some patients who suffer several times per month or the ‘monthly migraine’ as it’s more commonly known.
Emgality belongs to a new class of treatments for migraines known as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists. It has been reported that Emgality can reduce the number of monthly migraine episodes in patients without medication by 50% or more in over half of its clinical trial participants and up to 83% after six months. According to Eli Lilly and Company, Emgality® demonstrates a reduction in frequency, duration, and pain severity in patients with episodic and chronic migraine. (Source**)
Speaking to Eli Lilly and Company about the breakthrough results for Emgality, Jessica Ailani, Director at MedStar Georgetown Headache Center, says: “The impact of migraine is profound and individualized management goes beyond how many days per month a person experiences migraine.”
Total pain burden serves as a more comprehensive measure and provides a deeper understanding for us and our patients to describe their pain.
Jessica Ailani, Director of MedStar
How does Emgality galcanezumab work?
Emgality has been designed with specific targets in mind: CGRP receptors on blood vessels within the brain and the sensory nerves that surround them. The medicine works to block these receptors and in doing so, it prevents migraine attacks from ever occurring which is a breakthrough within itself as there are no preventive treatments currently available for sufferers of chronic migraines (Source: Eli Lilly and Company & Journal of Headache and Pain).
When Emgality 120 mg/ML was tested on over 900 participants with an average age of around 50 years old across 11 different countries during its clinical trial process, patients were given monthly injections into their upper arm or thigh. These doses reduced the number of ‘headache days’ by up to two per month when compared against placebo after three months of treatment.
In addition to working through CGRP receptor blockade, studies have also shown that emgality can work alongside current acute migraine treatments and still be effective. By combining the two, emgality migraine treatment can help patients (Source: Eli Lilly and Company)
According to a press release on February 2019 from Eli Lilly & Co., Emgality® had already met its primary endpoint of reducing monthly headache days by at least 50% in over half of chronic migraine sufferers who are not taking preventive therapies just three months after initiating treatment with an injection. This makes it the first FDA approved medicine for preventative use against migraines that works through CGRP receptor blockade making it both safe and effective within clinical trials so far.
Using Emgality is set apart from other current acute migraine medicines as this new form of medication prevents headaches before they ever occur which could be a breakthrough for sufferers who have tried every other pain relief option under the sun.
From how often you get your migraines to where they are most severe, Emgality works across all four phases of migraine attacks including prodrome (or premonitory) which is when patients feel early warning signs such as nausea or dizziness before an attack occurs and this can last days in some cases like with menstrual migraine sufferers. In addition, emgality also reduces both the number of headache hours and severity each month too making it one of the best treatments out there if approved by your GP doctor after consultation regarding any side effects that may occur over time using this medicine. (Source: Eli Lilly and Company).
Emgality migraine medicine FAQs
What are the side effects of Emgality
Emgality is a relatively new drug in migraine prevention drugs so there’s limited long-term evidence on its side effects. However, there is some evidence to suggest that the medication can cause injection site reactions in a small number of patients (less than 15%). Patients with allergies or hypersensitivity should avoid emgality injections as they may be fatal for these individuals. What are emgality migraine prevention medicine injections?
Emgality migraine medicine comes in an injectable form (120 mg/ML) and acts by stopping calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from being released at nerve endings. This substance increases blood flow to certain parts of the brain which triggers an attack when activated excessively during times where they are not needed such as during sleep or rest periods.
How much does Emgality 120 mg/mL cost?
Emgality galcanezumab migraine prevention medicine costs $575 per monthly dose or $6500 for a yearly supply.
How often do I need to take Emgality injections?
You can take emgality once every four weeks as directed by your doctor. The injection needs to be administered under the skin (subcutaneous injection site) and cannot be taken intravenously (IV).
What are the common Emgality side effects?
The most common side effect of Emgality 120 mg/mL is back pain, redness at the site where it has been injected, headache and dizziness. There’s some evidence that this medication may cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea so patients should not use it if they have experienced these symptoms in the past after taking other migraine treatments like triptan drugs.
Can I stop taking my other migraine medications?
If you take Emgality, you can stop taking other preventive medications that you might be on. This is because emgality works to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and severity in addition to reducing the use of acute treatments along with medication overuse headache (MOH).
How is Emgality different from other migraine drugs?
Emgality is different from other migraine drugs because it is a preventive treatment, rather than being used to treat the migraine itself. Is emgality safe? Yes, emgality has been shown in clinical trials to be reasonably safe and well-tolerated by patients. Side effects are usually mild or moderate such as headache, injection site reactions (pain at the location where you have your injections).
What are the side effects of galcanezumab gnlm?
The side effects of galcanezumab gnlm are headache, back pain, redness at the site where it has been injected and dizziness. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if any of the following side effects occur, according to Mayo Clinic:
– Difficulty breathing
– Fast heartbeat
– Fever
– Hives, itching, skin rash
– Hoarseness
– Irritation
– Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
– Redness of the skin
– Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet
– Tightness in the chest
– Trouble with swallowing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Will I need to use Emgality 120 mg/ML long-term?
The length of time you’ll need to use this drug will depend, but generally, the answer is no. This is because emgality has been studied in clinical trials for a period of one year, and the results show that migraine attacks were reduced by 50% or more.
What other drugs will affect Emgality?
Other drugs will affect Emgality, and this is why it’s important to let your doctor know everything you’re taking, whether prescription or over-the-counter. Talk with the doctor about emgality side effects before using this migraine prevention medicine so that they can make sure there won’t be any problems when other medications are used together.
What happens if I miss a dose of Emgality?
If you miss a dose of Emgality, take it as soon as you remember. You can also take two doses on the same day, but make sure to leave a gap of at least three hours in between taking the second dose and your next scheduled dose.
What happens in case I overdose on Emgality?
An overdose is not likely to happen with emgality migraine prevention medicine unless someone accidentally takes too many injections. If this happens, visit the nearest hospital or poison center for treatment immediately if you notice any side effects such as headache, drowsiness and neck pain.
Emgality Statistics
Factual sentences on the subject of Emgality medicine source referenced below for external usage:
- Pain at the injection site is one of the most common side effects reported with Emgality, with 18% of people experiencing it. (drugs.com)
- As of 3/2/2020, Emgality has coverage for over 90% of people through commercial insurance (employer or private individual policy). (emgality.com)
- At least a 50 percent reduction in MHDs in any given month on average (% responders): 62% (N=210) for Emgality 120 mg compared to 39% (N=425) for placebo (p<0.001) (investor.lilly.com)
- At least a 50 percent reduction in MHDs in any given month on average (% responders): 59% (N=226) for Emgality 120 mg compared to 36% (N=450) for placebo (p<0.001) (investor.lilly.com)