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Overview: Ajovy is a medicine used to help prevent migraines. This medicine is injected under your skin. Common side effects are redness and pain where the medicine is used. Tell your health care provider if you have high blood pressure before using this medicine. If your blood pressure increases, tell your health care provider. Stop using this medicine and tell your health care provider right away if your fingers or toes change color or feel different (cool, painful, or numb). Make sure that you read the "Instructions for Use" document that comes with this medicine, and ask your health care provider if you have any questions.

Uses

What is Ajovy used for?

Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) is commonly used to prevent migraine.

Ajovy may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does Ajovy work (mechanism of action)?

Ajovy works by blocking a substance in the brain called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is involved in headache pain and can make headaches last longer. By blocking CGRP, Ajovy helps prevent migraine.

How is Ajovy supplied (dosage forms)?

Ajovy is available in the following dosage forms that are injected under the skin.

  • 225 mg/1.5 mL solution for injection, prefilled autoinjectors and syringes

How should I store Ajovy?

Store Ajovy in the refrigerator, between 36 F and 46 F (2 C and 8 C). Do not freeze. Keep it in the original carton, which helps protect it from light. 

Once removed from the refrigerator, you can store Ajovy at room temperature, up to 86 F (30 C), in the original carton, and use it within 7 days. If your medicine is left at room temperature for more than 7 days, throw it out. Once you store Ajovy at room temperature, do not put it back in the refrigerator.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Ajovy?

The most common side effect of Ajovy is pain, itching, swelling, or redness near the injection site. Tell your health care provider if you have this side effect and it bothers you.

There may be other side effects of Ajovy that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Ajovy?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Ajovy are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Ajovy may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Allergic reactions can occur at any time during Ajovy use, up to one month after an injection. Stop using Ajovy and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Ajovy may increase your blood pressure or make it worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your health care provider if your blood pressure increases while taking this medicine.

If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. Increases in blood pressure may not be noticeable, but look out for and tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.

  • Sudden severe headache
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Blurry or other changes to vision
  • Anxiety
  • Buzzing in the ears
  • Nosebleed
  • Feeling of skipped heartbeats

Blood Flow Problems. Ajovy may cause or worsen a condition called Raynaud's phenomenon, which occurs when the blood vessels in your fingers and toes overreact and lead to low blood flow. Stop using this medicine, and call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Fingers or toes feeling numb, cool, painful, or sensitive to cold
  • Fingers or toes changing color from pale, to blue, to red
  • Unexplained wounds on fingers or toes

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Ajovy?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Ajovy.

  • Ajovy
  • Fremanezumab-vfrm
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Ajovy.

What should I know about Ajovy before using it?

Do not use Ajovy unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Use it as prescribed.

Do not share Ajovy with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Ajovy out of the reach of children. If you keep the medicine in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.

If you take Ajovy out of the refrigerator just before injecting it, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using it. Do not heat in the microwave or in hot water. During this time, protect from sunlight.

This medicine is injected under the skin. Read the "Instructions for Use" document that comes with this medicine. Make sure that you or a caregiver understand how to properly prepare and use Ajovy. If you have any questions, talk to your health care provider. 

Do not shake Ajovy. 

Each injection is for one time use. Discard the prefilled syringe or autoinjector properly in a sharps container after one use. 

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Ajovy?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Ajovy is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • High blood pressure
  • Raynaud’s disease

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Ajovy could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using Ajovy, you can register for the Teva Migraine Pregnancy Registry by calling 833-927-2605 or at www.tevamigrainepregnancyregistry.com. This registry collects safety information about the use of migraine medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if Ajovy passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should use Ajovy while breastfeeding.

How can I get more information about Ajovy?

For more information about Ajovy, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.ajovy.com or call them at 800-887-8100.

Interactions

Does Ajovy interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Ajovy and foods or drinks.

There are no known interactions between Ajovy and alcohol. However, alcohol can trigger migraine attacks in some people. Consult your health care provider for more information and medical advice.

Does Ajovy interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

There are no known interactions between Ajovy and other medicines. Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Ajovy?

If you or someone else has used too much Ajovy, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Ajovy?

If you use Ajovy once a month and miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Your next dose will be 1 month later. Do not use double or extra doses.

If you use Ajovy every three months and miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Your next dose will be 3 months later. Do not use double or extra doses.