Five Things to Know About Migraine and its Management

If you or a loved one is living with migraine, here are five things Dr. David Kudrow, director of the California Medical Clinic for Headache in Santa Monica, California, and the director emeritus at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center wants you to know about migraine and its management.

1. Certain symptoms suggest that a headache may be a migraine.

Migraine is associated with a variety of symptoms – typically throbbing headaches, nausea and sensitivity to sound and light, but not everyone experiences migraine the same way.⁸ Every migraine patient is different and has distinct triggers that can induce migraine attacks.⁹ During an attack, patients may experience moderate to severe head pain that can last from four hours to three days.⁸ More than half of patients report severe impairment or need bed rest during migraine attacks.⁵ Some experience a few migraine days per month, others may be affected by many more.^8,10

2. Speaking up about migraine can help dispel misperceptions and reduce stigma.

Research has shown that many people are stigmatized for missing time with friends, family or co-workers due to migraine.² Although migraine can be difficult to talk about, speaking about experience with migraine will help others understand what it’s really like to live with this condition.² Friends and family may not always understand what happens during a migraine day. Whether it’s with a partner, close friend or work colleague, sharing how migraine impacts day-to-day life can change misperceptions and reduce the stigma.²

3. Migraine management requires an individualized approach.

Migraine management can look different from person-to-person and while there is no one-size-fits-all approach, every patient requires a migraine management plan that is right for them. Almost all migraine sufferers require acute treatment, which aims to relieve headache pain, associated symptoms and disability once a migraine episode has begun.⁴ Furthermore, some may benefit from a preventive treatment approach, which is administered on a regular basis and is intended to reduce the frequency and overall impact of migraine.⁴

4. A migraine preventive treatment may be an option for appropriate patients.

Many people living with migraine may not know that a preventive treatment is an option; it’s important to talk to your doctor to see if a preventive treatment option may be right for you. One example is Aimovig^® (erenumab-aooe) injection, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.¹¹

Aimovig works by targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, which is believed to play a critical role in migraine.¹¹ Its FDA approval was based on data from three clinical studies that compared Aimovig to placebo and showed that Aimovig reduced monthly migraine days, with some patients achieving at least a 50 percent reduction.¹¹

Important Safety Information

Who should not use Aimovig^®?

Do not use Aimovig^® if you are allergic to erenumab-aooe or any ingredients in Aimovig^®.

Before starting Aimovig^®, tell your healthcare provider (HCP) about all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to rubber or latex, pregnant or plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

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5. Talking about a migraine management plan is important.

Having an open conversation with your healthcare provider about your migraine and how it is impacting your life will help determine the appropriate migraine management plan– including if a preventive treatment such as Aimovig may be right for you.

For more information about Aimovig, visit www.aimovig.com.

Dr. Kudrow was compensated for his time.

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APPROVED USE

Aimovig^® is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Who should not use Aimovig^®?

Do not use Aimovig^® if you are allergic to erenumab-aooe or any ingredients in Aimovig^®.

Before starting Aimovig^®, tell your healthcare provider (HCP) about all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to rubber or latex, pregnant or plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including any prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

What are possible side effects of Aimovig^®?

Aimovig^® may cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions, including rash or swelling can happen after receiving Aimovig^®. This can happen within hours to days after using Aimovig^®. Call your HCP or get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing.
• Constipation with serious complications. Severe constipation can happen after receiving Aimovig^®. In some cases people have been hospitalized or needed surgery. Contact your HCP if you have severe constipation.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure or worsening of high blood pressure can happen after receiving Aimovig^®. Contact your healthcare provider if you have an increase in blood pressure.

The most common side effects of Aimovig^® are pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and constipation.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Aimovig^®. Call your HCP for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for the full Prescribing Information and Patient Product Information.

References

1. 1. Steiner, T.J., Stovner, L.J., Jensen, R. et al. J Headache Pain. 2020.
   2. Rutberg S, Ohrling K. Disabil Rehabil. 2012;34(4):329-336.
   3. GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Lancet. 2018;392:1789-1858.
   4. Diamond S, Bigal ME, Silberstein S, et al. Headache. 2006;47(3):355-363.
   5. Lipton R, Bigal ME, Diamond M, et al. Neurology. 2007;68(5)343-9..
   6. Russo AF. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2015;55:533-552.
   7. Buse D, Scher AI, Dodick DW, et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(5):596-611.
   8. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (HIS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3^rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211.
   9. Kelman L. Cephalalgia. 2007; 27 (5): 394-402.
   10. Lipton RB, Stewart WF, Diamond S, et al. Headache. 2001;41(7):1-211.
   11. Aimovig^® (erenumab-aooe) Prescribing Information, Amgen, November 2021.