What dose will I take to prevent migraines?
Some preventative medications require titration to an optimal dose. (The dose that is effective in preventing your migraines, with little to no side effects.) This is not applicable to Galcanezumab-gnlm. Instead the first dose is a larger amount than a regular dose. This is to quickly raise the level of medication in your body from zero.
This is called a loading dose, and requires two pens. It is twice the amount of the regular dose to ensure the levels of Galcanezumab-gnlm in your body are in the optimal range as soon as possible. The second dose will be after one month, and will be 120 mg, or one pen.
How do you know if your treatment is working?
Put on the spot, it is often difficult to compare before and after taking medication! We recommend keeping a migraine diary. Record the number of migraines headaches that you experience each week, and their intensity. Also make a note of all medications, and supplements that you are taking. It may also help to record any side effects that you are experiencing.
You may notice benefits directly such as fewer headaches occurring, or less intense headaches that are more easily relieved with acute drugs. You may notice more benefit from other techniques that you use to make yourself comfortable during a headache (such as lying down or sleeping, going to a dark and quiet place).
Alternatively you may feel the benefits in other ways: you may feel more rested, or notice an improvement in sleeping patterns, it might be that you feel more productive at work or at home, or you feel able to take part in more family, social or leisure activities.
Remember you may only notice a difference in your migraines after consistently taking your medication for at least three months.
Titration Summary
- Begin the treatment by taking a loading dose of two pens.
- The second dose is taken one month later, and is one pen only.
- Every two weeks review whether you are having fewer migraines, and whether you are having side effects. If you are yet to see the full benefit of treatment (prevention of migraines) you may need to continue Galcanezumab-gnlm for at least three months to see benefits in migraine frequency and intensity reduction.
Always remember that you can contact the Mable support line for further information on titrating your medication.
Mable Phone Number: 855-953-4316
Hours: 7am-7pm PST Mon-Fri & 9am-5pm PST Sat-Sun.