If you have migraine or cluster headaches, your doctor might suggest Emgality as a treatment option for you.

Emgality is a prescription drug used in adults.

The active ingredient in Emgality is galcanezumab-gnlm. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) This drug is a biologic, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists.

Emgality comes as a liquid solution in prefilled pens and prefilled syringes. You’ll use either the pen or the syringe to give yourself the drug as an injection under your skin.

This article describes the dosages of Emgality, as well as its strengths and how to use it. To learn more about Emgality, see this in-depth article.

Note: The charts below highlight the basics of Emgality’s dosage. Be sure to read on for more detail.

Strength, form, and schedule are important for preventing headaches.

Emgality forms Emgality strengths Usual starting dose Maintenance dosage
• a single-dose prefilled pen
• A single dose of medicine.		 • pen: 120 mg/mL*
• syringe: 120 mg/mL		 240 mg for the first dose† 120 mg once per month

* The abbreviation “mg/mL” stands for milligrams per milliliter of liquid solution.
† With certain drugs, you take a higher dose than usual at the start of treatment. This is called a loading dose. You then switch to a lower dose, called a maintenance dose. For more information, see the “Frequently asked questions” section below.

The strength and form of the treatment for headaches.

Emgality form Emgality strengths for this use Usual dosage
A single dose of medicine. syringe: 100 mg/mL 300 mg at the start of a cluster period* then once per month until the cluster period ends

A cluster period is the time when a person is having headaches.

Please keep in mind that this article covers Emgality’s standard dosage schedule, which is provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But always follow the dosing instructions your doctor prescribes.

The standard dosage is provided below.

What are the forms of Emgality?

Emgality comes as a liquid solution that you’ll inject under your skin using one of the following devices:

  • A pen with a prefilled pen.
  • A single dose of medicine.

What strengths does Emgality come in?

“The pen’s strength is 120 milligrams per liter of liquid solution.”

The Emgality is available in two strengths: 100 and 120.

What are the usual dosages of Emgality?

The information below describes the commonly used or recommended Emgality starting dose and maintenance dose, as well as dosing frequency. But be sure to follow the dosing instructions your doctor gives you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for treating episodic cluster headaches

Emgality’s dose for treating episodic cluster headaches is 300 mg. For this purpose, your doctor will prescribe the prefilled syringes containing 100 mg/mL of Emgality. You’ll need to use three syringes, one right after the other, for each dose.

You will get a dose of Emgality at the beginning of the period. You will give yourself a dose once a month until your cluster period ends.

Dosage for migraine prevention

Emgality’s starting dose for helping to prevent migraine headaches is 240 mg.* For this purpose, your doctor will prescribe either the prefilled pens or syringes containing 120 mg/mL of Emgality. You’ll need to use two syringes, one right after the other, for this dose.

You will have a maintenance dose of 120 million every month after that.

You take a higher dose at the start of treatment with certain drugs. This is a loading dose. You then switch to a lower dose. TheFrequently asked questions section is where you can find more information.

Is Emgality used long term?

Emgality is usually used for a long time. If you and your doctor agree that it is safe and effective for your condition, you will likely use it for a long time.

Answers to some questions about Emgality are below.

What’s the loading dose of Emgality?

At the start of treatment, your doctor will give you a higher dose of the drugs. This is a loading dose. The higher dose helps the drug start working. You take a maintenance dose to manage your condition. When you start Emgality treatment, your doctor will give you loading dose instructions.

If you’re using Emgality to help prevent migraine headaches, you’ll inject a loading dose of 240 mg. After this loading dose, you’ll use a maintenance dosage of 120 mg once per month.

If you’re using Emgality to treat episodic cluster headaches, you won’t use a loading dose at the start of treatment.

Will my doctor give me dosing instructions before I start using Emgality?

Your doctor will give you instructions on how to dose up.

Emgality is a liquid solution that you’ll receive as an injection under your skin. Your doctor can show you how to do this so that you may give yourself injections at home.

On the manufacturer’s website, you can find dosing and injection directions for migraine headache prevention and cluster headache treatment. And your doctor or pharmacist can also answer any questions you have about Emgality injections.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. You should take your next dose a month after adjusting your schedule. Take note of the new date so you can plan for the future.

If you have questions about a missed dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you need help remembering to give yourself a dose of Emgality on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

The kind of condition you are treating may affect the amount of Emgality you are given.

Emgality is a liquid solution inside prefilled pens and needles. Your doctor can tell you what form is best for you.

You’ll receive Emgality as an injection under your skin. Your doctor can show you how to give yourself injections so you can do this at home.

You or a person you care for should inject Emgality into one of the areas.

  • Your stomach.
  • Your thigh.
  • Your buttock.
  • The back of your arm.

On the manufacturer’s website, you can find dosing and injection directions for migraine headache prevention and cluster headache treatment. And your doctor or pharmacist can also answer any questions you have about Emgality injections.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Emgality, see this article.

Accessible drug containers and labels

“If you can’t read the prescription label on your medication, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies have labels for medication.”

  • Large print or use of blind.
  • You can use a code on a phone to change the text to sound.

“If your current pharmacy doesn’t offer accessibility features, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a new pharmacy.”

If you use more Emgality than your doctor prescribes, you can be in danger of serious side effects.

What to do in case you use too much Emgality

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve used too much Emgality. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages provided by the drug manufacturer are described in the sections above. If your doctor recommends Emgality, they will prescribe the correct amount for you.

Remember, you should not change Your dose of Emgality. without your doctor’s recommendation. Only use Emgality exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • Can I take my Emgality dosage with other migraine medications?
  • Is a higher dose of Emgality riskier than the drug?
  • Will you change my dose if Emgality is not working for me?

If you use Emgality for migraine, sign up for Healthline’s online newsletter for trusted remedies, coping techniques, and expert advice. You can also find support from others who share your condition by joining the Bezzy migraine community.

Q:

What might the prefilled pen or the prefilled syringe do that would make it a better choice for me?

Anonymous

A:

Some factors can affect which form of Emgality you use.

  • You are using Emgality to treat the condition.
  • Your dose of Emgality.
  • Whether your insurance covers one form or not.
  • How do you prefer to receive a dose?

If you have insurance, you should know if only one form of Emgality is covered. You can contact your insurance provider or the pharmacy.

Emgality’s dose for treating cluster headaches is 300 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin. Prefilled syringes contain 100 mg per milliliter (mg/mL) of Emgality, so you’ll use three syringes for your dose. Only the syringes come in the 100mg/mL strength, so if you’re using Emgality for cluster headaches, you’ll likely use the syringes.

Emgality’s dose for helping to prevent migraine headaches is 240 mg for your first dose, injected under your skin. For prefilled pens or syringes containing 120 mg/mL of Emgality, you’ll use two syringes for your dose. After your first dose, you’ll then switch to a lower dose. This is 120 mg of Emgality once a month.

The strength of the prefilled pens and syringes is 120 gis/mL, so you can use either form to prevent headaches.

Some people prefer using a pen while others prefer using a needle. Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you prefer one form over the other.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.