Key takeaways

  • Aimovig can cause side effects ranging from mild to serious. Common side effects include muscle cramps, constipation, and injection site reactions.
  • Severe constipation requiring hospital treatment, high blood pressure, and Raynaud’s phenomenon are possible serious side effects that may occur while using Aimovig.
  • Aimovig does not typically cause weight changes, long-term complications, or withdrawal symptoms.

Aimovig is administered to help prevent migraine episodes in adults. Migraine is a condition that can cause severe headaches and other symptoms.

The active ingredient in Aimovig is erenumab-aooe. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) You’ll give yourself the drug as an injection under your skin. It comes as a liquid solution in prefilled syringes and prefilled autoinjector pens.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Aimovig can cause.

Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during Aimovig treatment.

Examples of mild side effects that studies of Aimovig have reported include:

Examples of more serious side effects that may occur with Aimovig include:

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

These aren’t all the side effects Aimovig may cause. Read on to learn about other possible side effects of the drug.

Aimovig can cause mild side effects.

Examples of mild side effects that studies of Aimovig have reported include:

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Usually, these side effects should be temporary. Some may be easily manageable, too. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop using Aimovig unless your doctor recommends it.

Aimovig may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed here. See the Aimovig prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Aimovig and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-332-1088.

Aimovig may cause rare but serious side effects.

Studies of Aimovig did not report serious side effects. But serious side effects have been reported since the drug became available on the market. These include:

For more information about some of these serious side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

If you develop serious side effects while using Aimovig, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Aimovig’s side effects.

Does Aimovig cause weight loss or weight gain?

No, weight change isn’t likely to be a side effect of Aimovig. Studies of the drug did not report weight gain and weight loss as side effects.

But other drugs used to help prevent migraine may have weight changes as side effects. Examples include propranolol (Inderal LA), which can cause weight gain, and topiramate (Topamax), which can cause weight loss.

If you’re concerned about weight changes while receiving Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to reach or maintain a weight that is healthy for you.

Does Aimovig cause long-term side effects?

It’s unlikely. Studies of the drug did not report long-term side effects. But some side effects of Aimovig, such as constipation and high blood pressure, can cause complications that may last long term.

For example, there have been reports of severe constipation since Aimovig became available. Some people may require hospital treatment or surgery to relieve symptoms of severe constipation.

If you’re concerned about possible long-term side effects from Aimovig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will I experience withdrawal side effects if I stop using Aimovig?

It’s not likely. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that may happen if you suddenly stop using a drug. But studies of Aimovig did not report withdrawal as a side effect.

Even though withdrawal symptoms aren’t likely, be sure to talk with your doctor before you stop Aimovig treatment.

Is hair loss a side effect of Aimovig?

Maybe. Studies of Aimovig did not report hair loss as a side effect. But hair loss has been reported by people who’ve used the drug since it became available on the market.

Keep in mind that stress, which can trigger a migraine episode for some people, can also lead to hair loss. (Aimovig is used to help prevent migraine episodes.) So you may have hair loss related to stress or migraine while using Aimovig. But these side effects may not be due to the drug itself.

If you’re concerned about hair loss while using Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether hair loss is due to the drug itself or the condition you’re using it to treat.

Does Aimovig cause fatigue or nausea?

No, Aimovig probably doesn’t cause fatigue (low energy) or nausea. Studies of the drug did not report these side effects.

But keep in mind that, in addition to severe headaches, migraine can also cause other symptoms. This includes fatigue and nausea. Since Aimovig is administered to help prevent migraine, you may have these symptoms while using the drug. But fatigue and nausea may not be due to Aimovig itself.

If you have fatigue or nausea while using Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether these symptoms are due to the drug itself or the condition you’re using it to treat.

Learn more about some of the side effects Aimovig may cause.

Constipation

It’s possible you may have constipation while using Aimovig. Mild constipation was a common side effect in studies of the drug. And since the drug became available for use, severe constipation has also been reported.

Severe constipation may require treatment in the hospital. You may also require surgery to relieve your constipation.

Symptoms of constipation can include:

  • having fewer than three bowel movements in a week
  • having painful bowel movements
  • passing dry, hard stools

What might help

If you have symptoms of constipation while using Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely ask questions about your condition to make sure your constipation isn’t severe.

If your constipation is mild, there are remedies you can try at home. Your doctor may also have suggestions, or they can prescribe a medication to help ease your constipation.

If your constipation is severe, your doctor may suggest you go to the hospital for immediate treatment.

Injection site reactions

Injection-site reactions are common side effects of Aimovig. These are reactions that occur around the site of your Aimovig injection.

Examples include:

What might help

Injection site reactions with Aimovig generally go away within a couple of days after your injection. But if you have bothersome reactions after injecting Aimovig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest ways to ease this side effect.

Letting Aimovig come to room temperature before injecting a dose can help reduce discomfort during an injection. You should remove Aimovig from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Keep the drug out of direct sunlight, and do not microwave it.

High blood pressure

Aimovig may cause high blood pressure, and the drug may worsen high blood pressure in people who already have this condition. (High blood pressure is also known as hypertension.) There were no reports of this side effect in initial studies of the drug. But high blood pressure has been reported since the drug became available for use.

High blood pressure may not cause any symptoms unless it’s severe. But possible symptoms can include:

What might help

While you’re using Aimovig, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure. They may have you keep track of your blood pressure at home using a home monitor.

If you have symptoms of high blood pressure while using the drug, tell your doctor right away. They may recommend that you stop using the drug.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure before you start using Aimovig. They might prescribe a drug other than Aimovig for your condition.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Aimovig can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But there were no reports of this side effect in studies.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. To manage symptoms, they may suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Or they may recommend a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Aimovig, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Aimovig, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During Aimovig treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects you’re having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were using when you had the side effect
  • how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect
  • what your symptoms were from the side effect
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were also taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Aimovig affects you. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Before taking Aimovig, discuss your health history with your doctor. Aimovig may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Alcohol and Aimovig

There are no known safety issues with drinking alcohol while using Aimovig.

But for some people, drinking alcohol can trigger a migraine episode. If you know alcohol is one of your migraine triggers, you’ll likely want to avoid alcohol while using the drug.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the amount that’s safe for you to have during Aimovig treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Aimovig

It is unknown whether Aimovig is safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Aimovig. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of using the drug during these times.

If you do use Aimovig while pregnant, consider signing up for the Aimovig pregnancy registry. The pregnancy registry gathers information on how Aimovig can affect pregnancy. To learn more, visit the registry website or call 833-244-4083. You can also talk with your doctor.

Q:

I’ve experienced depression as a side effect of other drugs for migraine prevention I’ve used in the past. Will I have depression after using Aimovig?

Anonymous

A:

Depression isn’t a likely side effect of Aimovig, as it wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.

Before starting Aimovig treatment, you should talk with your doctor about your health history. This includes depression and any other side effects you may have had in the past. Your doctor will work with you to develop a plan to monitor your side effects and make sure Aimovig is safe for you.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.