Key takeaways:
Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) blocker that’s FDA approved to prevent migraine in adults. It comes as a single-dose, prefilled syringe or autoinjector pen that you inject at home.
There are two recommended Ajovy dosages: 225 mg injected once per month or 675 mg injected once every 3 months. There aren’t any recommended dosage adjustments for the medication based on health conditions.
There are ways to save on Ajovy. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get Ajovy for as little as $15 per prescription.
People who experience migraines know that an attack can completely shut down your day and ruin your plans. This impacts work, social life, and personal interests, which creates stress. And in turn, this stress can trigger another migraine attack (or worsen your current one).
Rather than waiting to treat a migraine, Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) is an injectable medication that can help prevent them. It’s a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist that’s administered monthly or quarterly to prevent migraines.
Yes, you read that correctly: you may only need to use Ajovy four times per year. Let’s discuss typical Ajovy dosages in more detail.
Note: Ajovy isn’t FDA approved for children. So there isn’t a recommended dosage in this age group.
There are two recommended Ajovy dosages for preventing migraine in adults:
Inject 225 mg beneath the skin once a month
Inject 675 mg beneath the skin once every 3 months (this dose is administered as 3 separate injections on the same day)
Ajovy comes as a single-dose, prefilled syringe or an autoinjector pen. A healthcare professional will show you how to give yourself injections when you are first prescribed Ajovy. After that, you’ll be able to administer your doses at home.
You can administer Ajovy in the abdomen (stomach), front of the thigh, or back of the upper arm. Typically, the abdomen or thigh are the easiest areas for self-injection. The upper arm is a better spot if a caregiver or loved one is injecting Ajovy for you.
If you’re prescribed the 675 mg Ajovy dose, you’ll need to give yourself 3 separate injections. Be sure to administer each injection in a different location. You can use the same area of the body, but don’t use the exact same spot for more than one injection.
If you have questions about how to administer Ajovy, talk with your prescriber or pharmacist. You can also view instructional step-by-step videos from the manufacturer. Instructions differ slightly for the prefilled syringe compared to the autoinjector pen.
No, there currently isn’t a biosimilar (“generic”) for Ajovy. Ajovy is a biologic medication. Biologics are created from natural sources, such as proteins. Biosimilars are highly similar alternatives to the original biologic (called a reference biologic). But unlike generic medications, biosimilars aren’t an exact copy of the medication they’re based on.
No, there are no recommended Ajovy dosage adjustments for certain health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease. You also don’t need to make dosage changes for medication interactions.
The only adjustment you might make is to change from monthly to quarterly Ajovy injections (or vice versa). And this is typically based on personal or prescriber preference since both regimens are similarly effective.
If you miss a dose of Ajovy, administer it as soon as you remember. Then, adjust your dosing schedule for future injections. You should inject your next dose based on the day you remember to inject the missed dose. Don’t double up or inject extra Ajovy to make up for missed doses.
For example, let’s say you usually administer Ajovy on the 4th day of every month. But this month, you realize on the 6th that you missed your injection. You should inject the missed dose as soon as you can. Moving forward, you should give yourself future Ajovy doses on the 6th day of every month.
There isn’t much information available on what might happen if you take too much Ajovy. But because the medication comes in prefilled injection devices, this situation is unlikely to happen.
Still, if you think you’ve taken too much Ajovy, call your healthcare team for guidance. You can also contact Poison Control online or at 1-800-222-1222. But if you’re experiencing anything that seems severe or life-threatening, seek urgent medical help right away.
There are ways to save on Ajovy, which is available as a reference (“brand-name”) medication. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $15 per prescription for Ajovy using a copay savings card from the manufacturer.
There are two recommended Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) dosages for migraine prevention. You can either inject 225 mg once a month or 675 mg once every 3 months. If you only use it every 3 months, you’ll have to administer 3 separate injections at the same time. There are no recommended Ajovy dosage adjustments for people with certain health conditions.
Fiedler-Kelly, J., et al. (2020). Effect of fremanezumab monthly and quarterly doses on efficacy responses. Headache.
MedlinePlus. (2020). Fremanezumab-vfrm injection.
Rashid, A., et al. (2023). Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor. StatPearls.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (n.d.). Ajovy autoinjector.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (n.d.). Ajovy prefilled syringe.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (2022). Ajovy [package insert].
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