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How long does it take for Aimovig to start working?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 31, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Aimovig (erenumab) is a monoclonal antibody that was approved in May 2018 as a preventive treatment for migraine.

It works by blocking the CGRP receptor – CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) is a protein that causes intense inflammation in the covering of the brain (called the meninges) and nerve endings and is thought to cause migraines. Aimovig belongs to the class of medicines known as CGRP inhibitors.

Aimovig is administered as a single subcutaneous injection once a month. It is usually given in addition to other preventive treatments.

Aimovig does not work for everybody. Some people benefit from Aimovig within a month. However, at least three months should elapse before determining if Aimovig is effective for each person or not.

What benefits can I expect from Aimovig?

Response varies among individuals. The following benefits have been reported from clinical trials:

Less than 30% of people experienced a more than 50% decrease in the number of headache days after one month’s treatment. However, after two to three months of treatment, this number had increased to 49% experiencing a 50% decrease for the 70mg dose and 70% experiencing a 50% decrease for the 140mg dose.

People also noted that on the days they did not have a migraine, their heads felt clearer.

Aimovig also reduced non-headache symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and brain fog.

Related questions

Who is most likely to benefit from Aimovig?

Aimovig is most likely to benefit people who have at least one of the following:

Research has shown that Aimovig is effective in:

Because Aimovig is expensive, insurance companies have mostly limited access to this medication to people who have failed to benefit from two or three conventional preventive treatments.

What should I do if Aimovig is not working for me?

References

Read next

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

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

How long can Aimovig be out of the fridge?

Once you remove Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) from the refrigerator, you must use it within 7 days. Do not put Aimovig back in the refrigerator after it has reached room temperature Continue reading

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