Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) is a prescription drug that’s used to help prevent migraine episodes. Aimovig can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include constipation and injection site reactions, including bruising.

Aimovig is used in adults to help prevent migraine episodes. 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.) The drug is given 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. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

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

Examples of Aimovig’s commonly reported side effects may include:

Examples of more rare side effects that have been reported with Aimovig include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

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 have been reported with Aimovig include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. Some may be easily managed, 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 above. 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. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Aimovig, visit MedWatch.

Aimovig may cause rare but serious side effects.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Aimovig are described in the “Side effects explained” section below. These include:

* An allergic reaction is possible after using Aimovig. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

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. Weight gain and weight loss weren’t reported in studies of the drug.

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

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

Are there any reviews available from people who’ve used Aimovig?

No, the manufacturer of Aimovig hasn’t provided reviews from people who’ve used the drug. But if you’d like to share your experience with Aimovig, you can visit this webpage.

Note that reviews about medications may not be as reliable as other types of consumer reviews. This is because every person’s body responds differently to medications. You can’t predict how your body will react to a treatment based on someone else’s experience.

If you have questions about what to expect with Aimovig treatment, 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 taking a drug. But withdrawal wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of Aimovig.

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. Hair loss wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of Aimovig. 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 caused by the drug itself.

If you’re concerned about hair loss while using Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide if hair loss may be caused by the drug 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. These side effects weren’t reported in studies of Aimovig.

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

If you have fatigue or nausea while using Aimovig, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide if these symptoms are caused by the drug 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 initial studies of the drug. And since the drug became available for use, severe constipation has also been reported.

With severe constipation, your condition may need to be treated 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.

But if your constipation is severe, your doctor may suggest that you go to a hospital for immediate treatment.

Injection site reactions

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

Examples include:

  • bruising
  • itching
  • pain
  • redness or deepening of skin color

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.) This side effect wasn’t reported 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 this side effect wasn’t reported 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 if you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble 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 to do 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 taking 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.

Aimovig may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you use Aimovig. The list below includes factors to consider.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aimovig or any of its ingredients, you shouldn’t use Aimovig. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

High blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, tell your doctor before starting Aimovig. The drug can worsen high blood pressure in people with this condition. Your doctor will advise if it’s safe for you to use Aimovig.

Alcohol use and Aimovig

There aren’t any 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 while using Aimovig.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Aimovig

It isn’t known if 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.

Aimovig may help prevent your migraine episodes. Some people have mild side effects from the drug, such as mild constipation. But serious side effects from Aimovig are possible, including severe constipation that needs to be treated in a hospital.

If you have questions about Aimovig’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To help decide if Aimovig is right for your condition, you may want to discuss the drug with your doctor. Below are a few questions you might ask:

  • Do side effects vary between the 70-mg injection and the 140-mg injection?
  • Does Aimovig cause any long-term side effects?
  • What are a few ways to manage side effects I might experience from Aimovig?

To learn more about Aimovig, see these articles:

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Q:

I’ve experienced depression as a side effect of other migraine prevention drugs 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.