Does Aimovig cause weight gain or loss?
- No. Weight gain or loss has not been reported as a side effect of Aimovig.
- However, weight gain or loss is common in people with migraine, for reasons associated with the migraines themselves, rather than Aimovig.
- Weight loss may be due to loss of appetite associated with nausea or vomiting caused by a migraine.
- Obesity is common in people with migraines, and being obese increases a person’s risk of developing migraines.
Studies of Aimovig (erenumab), as well as the product information for the drug, do not report either weight loss or weight gain as a side effect.
However, people with migraines, in general, are prone to weight loss or weight gain. There are several reasons for this, such as:
- Nausea or vomiting experienced during a migraine may cause people to lose their appetite and not eat properly. If a person has many migraine episodes a month this could cause weight loss
- Fear of precipitating a migraine may cause people with migraine to forgo exercise or to stay at home more than somebody without migraine. This can lead to weight gain
- Obesity is a risk factor in developing migraines, and it is not unusual for people with migraines to be obese
- Obesity commonly occurs in association with several other chronic pain syndromes.
- Obesity is highly prevalent in the general population and it may have been present before migraines started.
References
- Deen M, Correnti E, Kamm K, et al. Blocking CGRP in migraine patients - a review of pros and cons. J Headache Pain. 2017;18(1):96. Published 2017 Sep 25. doi:10.1186/s10194-017-0807-1
- Aimovig [Package insert] Reviewed Oct 2019 Amgen Inc https://www.drugs.com/pro/aimovig.html
- Verrotti A, Di Fonzo A, Penta L, Agostinelli S, Parisi P. Obesity and headache/migraine: the importance of weight reduction through lifestyle modifications. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:420858. doi:10.1155/2014/420858
Read next
Ajovy vs Aimovig: What's the difference between them?
Ajovy and Aimovig are both calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors used for migraine prevention in adults. The dosing, side effects, effectiveness and costs of these medicines can vary. As demonstrated in studies, these agents can reduce the number of migraine headache days you experience by about 1.5 to 3 days per month when compared to a placebo (inactive) treatment, but your response may vary. Continue reading
Why does Aimovig cause constipation?
The gastrointestinal (digestive) tract contains CGRP proteins. Some studies suggest that CGRP may play an important role in maintaining the movement of the bowels. Blocking intestinal CGRP with a CGRP antagonist such as Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), a medicine used for migraine prevention, may lead to constipation, which can be severe in some patients. Continue reading
How long does Aimovig last in your system?
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 monthly for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Continue reading
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