Galcanezumab-gnlm (subcutaneous route)
Available brands
Emgality
About this medication
Galcanezumab-gnlm injection is used to prevent migraine headaches. It is also used to treat cluster headache, a form of headache that produces extreme pain and usually occurs in clusters, often at the same time(s) of the day, for several weeks to months. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of galcanezumab-gnlm injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of galcanezumab-gnlm injection in the elderly. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
How to use this medication
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach, thighs, upper arm, or buttocks. You or your caregiver may be trained to prepare and inject this medicine at home. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine. If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine is available in two forms: aprefilled syringeor aprefilled pen, which you can use at home. Check the liquid in the prefilled syringe. It should be clear and colorless to slightly yellow or slightly brown. Do not use it if it is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Do not shake. Allow the medicine to warm to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you use it. Do not warm it in any other way. Do not remove the needle cap from theprefilled syringeuntil you are ready to use it. You might not use all of the medicine in each prefilled syringe or pen. Use each prefilled syringe and pen only one time. Do not save an open syringe or pen. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Continue to use this medicine each month from the date of your last dose. If you have missed a dose of this medicine and you are using itfor episodic cluster headaches, continue to use this medicine each month from the date of your last dose until the end of the cluster period. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Keep the medicine in its original carton. You may also store it at room temperature for up to 7 days. Do not place it back in the refrigerator once you store it at room temperature. Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.