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How long does Aimovig last in your system?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Aug 15, 2024.

I have had one Aimovig (erenumab) injection and now want to know how long before it is out of my body?

Official answer

by Drugs.com

It takes approximately 154 days (22 weeks, or over 5 months) for Aimovig to be eliminated out of your system.

Aimovig is a prescription medicine injected under the skin once a month for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

  • The elimination half life of Aimovig (erenumab) is 28 days. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by one-half.
  • It usually takes around 5.5 x elimination half-life for a drug to be eliminated from your system.
  • For example, 5.5 x 28 days = 154 days which is 22 weeks, or over 5 months for Aimovig to be cleared from you body.

The actual half-life can vary from person to person due to patient-specific and drug-specific variables. Factors such as how well a drug is absorbed, distributed throughout the body, or excreted can affect the half-life.

Can I use Aimovig more than one time per month?

Aimovig is approved by the FDA to be injected only once per month. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you and your migraine symptoms. Speak with your doctor about your dosing schedule.

Related questions

What if I miss a dose of Aimovig?

If you miss a dose of Aimovig, administer it as soon as possible. Do not double your dose to make up for missed dose. Thereafter, your Aimovig dose can be scheduled monthly from the date of your last dose. If you have questions about your dose or when to administer it, call your doctor.

Bottom Line

  • It takes about 154 days (22 weeks, or 5.5 months) for Aimovig to be eliminated out of your body.
  • The elimination half life of Aimovig (erenumab) is 28 days. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by one-half.
  • Aimovig is a long-acting medicine for migraine treatment. It approved by the FDA to be injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once per month.

This is not all the information you need to know about Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) for safe and effective use. Review the full product information, and discuss this information with your doctor or other health care provider.

References
  • Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) product information. Amgen. Thousand Oaks, CA. Revised Feb. 2020. Accessed August 25, 2020 www.pi.amgen.com/~/media/amgen/repositorysites/pi-amgen-com/aimovig/aimovig_pi_hcp_english.ashx

Read next

What is the mechanism of action of Aimovig?

Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) works by blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor binding site and function. This helps to prevent the development of a migraine headache and associated pain. CGRP is a protein thought to cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to inflammation and migraine headache pain. Continue reading

Can you drink alcohol with Aimovig?

There is not a specific warning against alcohol (ethanol) consumption with the migraine preventive medicine Aimovig (erenumab-aooe). However, drinking alcoholic beverages can trigger a migraine headache in many people, or may worsen a headache. It may be best to avoid alcohol if you take Aimovig and fall into these categories. Continue reading

Can Aimovig cause hair loss (alopecia)?

Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), a medicine used for migraine prevention, did not lead to hair loss (alopecia) during clinical trials submitted for FDA-approval. Alopecia has been reported as a possible side effect in post-marketing reports of Aimovig. Continue reading

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