What is Emgality? Uses, warnings & side effects

How to take Emgality

• Follow all the prescriber’s directions.

• Please read the Patient Information sheet and Instructions for Use that come with this medicine.

• How to inject the medicine:

  • People administering their own injections should inject the medicine into the skin on the abdomen or the front of the thighs.

  • Caregivers administering injections for another person can inject the medicine into the skin on the back of the upper arms or the buttocks. 

  • People with vision or hearing problems should have their injections given by a caregiver.

  • Do not give injections into the same spot. 

  • Do not inject the medicine into tender, bruised, red, or hard skin. 

• How to prepare the injection:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before giving an injection.

  • Inspect the injection pen or syringe before using it. Do not use a syringe or pen injector that looks damaged, has passed its expiration date, or has medicine that is frozen, looks cloudy, or has small particles floating in the solution. 

  • Never shake the Emgality pen or prefilled syringe.

• Store the Emgality pen or prefilled syringe in the refrigerator in its original carton to protect the contents from light. Do not freeze.

• Emgality can be stored at room temperature for up to seven days. If it is not used before that time, safely dispose of the medicine. If Emgality is stored at room temperature, do not return it to the refrigerator.

Emgality pen

• How to use the Emgality pen:

  • The Emgality pen is used only for migraine prevention.

  • Remove the Emgality pen from the medicine carton, and if there are more pens in the carton, return the carton to the refrigerator.

  • Let the pen stand at room temperature out of direct sunlight for 30 minutes. Do not heat it.

  • Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe.

  • Pull the base cap off when ready to inject.

  • Press the pen’s base firmly against the injection site.

  • Press and hold the injection button. 

  • Hold the pen’s base firmly against the skin until the pen clicks a second time. This will take about 10 seconds.

  • Dispose of the Emgality pen in the sharps container.

Prefilled syringe

• How to use the prefilled syringe:

  • The Emgality 100 mg single-dose prefilled syringe has a red plunger and is used only for episodic cluster headaches. You will use three syringes when giving the monthly dose.

  • The Emgality 120 mg single-dose prefilled syringe has a teal plunger and is used only to prevent migraine headaches. You will use only one syringe when giving a monthly dose.

  • Remove the syringes you will be using from the refrigerator. If the carton contains other syringes, return the carton and those syringes to the refrigerator.

  • Let the medicine stand at room temperature out of direct sunlight for 30 minutes. Do not heat it.

  • Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe.

  • Pull the needle cap off when ready to inject.

  • Gently pinch the skin together at the injection site. 

  • Holding the barrel of the syringe, insert the needle into the pinched skin at a 45-degree angle.

  • Push the plunger slowly and with constant pressure until it’s all the way down.

  • The colored plunger rod will fill the entire syringe barrel when you’re finished.

  • Gently remove the needle and dispose of the needle and syringe in a sharps container.

What to do if you miss a dose of Emgality

• Take a missed dose as soon as it’s remembered. 

• The next scheduled dose should not be taken until 30 days after the missed dose has been injected.

Emgality contraindications - Who shouldn't take Emgality?

• This medicine is not right for everyone. 

• Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to its active ingredient, galcanezumab-gnlm.

Emgality warnings

• Tell any doctor or other healthcare professional treating you about your use of Emgality.

• Emgality treatment may require regular visits and tests to monitor therapy. Keep all appointments. 

• Before taking Emgality, tell the prescriber about all your medical conditions, present and past.

• Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. There is a pregnancy registry used specifically to monitor pregnancy outcomes in women taking Emgality.

Emgality interactions & what to avoid when taking Emgality

• Emgality has no known drug interactions.

• Even so, make sure the prescriber knows about all the drugs that you’re taking.

• Tell other healthcare professionals about Emgality before they prescribe new medications.