Erenumab Injection

What is this medication for?

Erenumab is used for the prevention of migraine.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Erenumab is injected under your skin into the fat layer between the skin and the muscle (subcutaneously) once monthly.
• It is a single use prefilled autoinjector pen or a single dose of pre-filled syringe.
• It can be injected at the top of the thighs, the stomach (avoiding the area within 2 inches/~5 cm from belly button) or the upper arms.
• Erenumab is kept in the fridge at 2-8^oC, until you are ready to use it. Take it out and allow it to reach room temperature (20-25^oC) for at least 30 minutes before injecting. Do not shake the contents. Once the medication is at room temperature, it cannot be placed back into the fridge.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to use erenumab or are unable to take the dose at the regular time, take your missed dose as soon as possible. Thereafter, you can continue to take erenumab once monthly from the date of your last dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You are allergic to latex or rubber.
• You had a recent heart attack or stroke
• You have uncontrolled blood pressure, kidney or liver diseases, Raynaud phenomenon (decreased blood flow to fingers or toes causing to feel numb, cool, or painful, or changing colour from pale, to blue, to red)
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

• Pain, redness, itching or swelling at the injection site
• Constipation
• Muscle spasm or muscle cramps
• High blood pressure

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

The symptoms of a drug allergy can happen within hours to days after using erenumab. It includes one or more of the following:
 

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Other symptoms that you should seek medical help,

• Severe constipation may happen after taking this medication
• Worsening of high blood pressure (signs and symptoms such as "the worst headache in your life", severe dizziness)  
• Raynaud phenomenon (decreased blood flow to fingers or toes causing to feel numb, cool, or painful, or changing colour from pale, to blue, to red) 

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store this medication?

Store in the refrigerator (2-8^oC) . Do not freeze. After removing from the refrigerator, it can be stored at room temperature (20-25^oC) for up to 7 days. Keep protected from light. Throw away the medication that has been left at room temperature for more than 7 days.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

Throw the used syringe or auto-injector pen in a sharps disposal container or a hard tin can e.g. Milo tin or biscuit tin to prevent needle prick injury.