Galcanezumab (Emgality) is an injectable drug that can help prevent migraines and treat some cluster headaches. But like any drug, it can cause unwanted side effects. Most aren’t serious and may go away after you’ve been taking the drug for a while.
You may be able to manage mild side effects yourself. But others will require a call to your doctor.
How to Manage Common Side Effects of Galcanezumab (Emgality)
Galcanezumab has relatively few side effects. The only one that happens often enough for doctors to consider it significant is injection site reactions. These are changes in your skin in the area where you get the shot. This happens in about 18% of people who use galcanezumab.
Injection site reactions can be different for each person. Here are some of the things you might notice in the area where you got a shot:
- Blisters
- A tingling, stinging, or burning feeling
- Hives, a rash, or redness
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Lumps
- Sores or scars
- Numbness
- Pain or soreness
- Coldness or warmth
- Changes to the color of your skin
- Feelings of pressure
- Infection
People rarely end treatment with galcanezumab because of this side effect. But if it becomes an issue for you or keeps happening, talk to your doctor.
There’s no way to eliminate the chance of injection site reactions. But you can take some steps to avoid them:
Learn the process. Your doctor or nurse will go over how to inject galcanezumab during one of your appointments. They can teach you ways to lower your risk of site reactions.
To inject galcanezumab with a prefilled pen:
- First, leave the pen out at room temperature for 30 minutes to warm up.
- Wash your hands and clean the injection area with alcohol.
- When the alcohol is dry, uncap the pen.
- Hold the clear base flat on your skin and unlock the pen. Press and hold the teal button on the pen and wait for a click. Then hold it on your skin for 10 seconds.
- You’ll hear another click, which means the pen has given you the full dose.
To inject galcanezumab with a prefilled syringe:
- Keep it at room temperature for 30 minutes before you start.
- Wash your hands and choose your injection site.
- Clean the site with an alcohol wipe and let it dry.
- Uncap the needle and gently pinch the skin at the injection site. Insert the needle into your skin at a 45-degree angle.
- Carefully push the plunger until all the medicine is injected.
- When the injection is done, you’ll see the teal plunger through the body of the syringe. Take the needle out and let go of your skin.
Use your medication exactly as your doctor tells you to. Never heat your syringe or pen, not even in warm water or direct sunlight. This could keep the drug from working correctly.
Pick the right location to inject. It’s important to rotate your injection site each month. To make sure you remember, make a note of where you inject each month on your phone or calendar.
You can inject yourself in the belly area, at least 2 inches away from your belly button. Or you can give yourself the shot in the front of one of your thighs, at least 2 inches above your knee and 2 inches below your groin. A caregiver or loved one can also inject you in the back of your arm or on one side of your bottom.
People who use galcanezumab have reported that injections in their thighs hurt more than injections in their belly area.
Don’t inject into any areas of skin that are red, tender, bruised, or hard. Avoid scars and stretch marks, too.
Use an ice pack. If injections are painful for you, apply a cold pack to numb your skin at the injection site. Do this 30 to 60 seconds before you inject galcanezumab (and before you clean the site with alcohol). You can also ask your doctor whether an over-the-counter numbing cream is a good idea.
Relax your mind and body. If you’re anxious about the shot, your muscles might stiffen or you might have a hard time holding still. This can make an injection more difficult and painful. To help control anxiety before and during your shot:
- Take deep, slow breaths to relax yourself.
- Visualize a place that calms you, like the beach.
- Put on some music you enjoy.
- To get comfortable with the injection process, make sure your doctor or nurse has answered any questions you have about it. It’s OK to ask them to show you more than once. You might also try watching instructional videos of galcanezumab injections online.
If these things don't ease your anxiety, talk to your doctor. They may refer you to a therapist or change your medication.
How to Treat Common Side Effects of Galcanezumab (Emgality)
If you do have an injection reaction from galcanezumab, follow these steps to feel better:
Use a bandage. If you bleed a little after your injection, apply pressure to the area and put a small bandage over it. If you continue to bleed, put a layer of gauze over your injection site and keep pressure on it until the bleeding stops. But don’t rub the injection site.
Control your pain. Ask your doctor if you can use topical anesthetics, which are creams you apply to your skin, on the injection site after your shot to ease pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin might help, too.
Ease pain and itching with ice. An ice pack can lessen itching, swelling, or pain after your injection.
What to Do if You Have Serious Side Effects With Galcanezumab (Emgality)
It’s rare, but some people are allergic to galcanezumab. You might be allergic to the drug if you get minor rashes or itching after you use it. Most allergic reactions are mild, but always tell your doctor if this happens to you. It could be a sign of a more serious problem in the future.
Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious reaction, such as:
- Itching all over your body
- Swelling in your face, tongue, mouth, or throat
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
