Frequent Migraine Attacks: When Preventive Treatment Such as Ajovy May be Discussed
Frequent migraine attacks can affect your everyday activities. If migraines occur often, medicines taken during an attack (acute treatment) may not be enough for long-term management. In such cases, your doctor may discuss preventive treatment to help reduce how often migraine attacks occur, lower their impact on daily life, and improve your response to acute medicines.1
Why do frequent migraine attacks need more than short-term relief?
Medicines used during an attack can help relieve symptoms once an attack begins, but they do not prevent future attacks. If migraines occur frequently, relying on acute medicines too often may reduce their effectiveness over time and can contribute to medication-overuse headache. In these situations, your doctor may discuss preventative treatment if you have more than three migraine episodes each month or at least eight headache days each month, particularly if migraines are affecting your daily activities and quality of life.1
What is migraine prevention?
Migraine prevention refers to treatments used to reduce frequency, severity, duration, and disability associated with migraine attacks. It may include lifestyle changes, identifying and managing triggers, and preventive medications recommended by your doctor after reviewing your migraine attack patterns, other medical conditions, and previous treatment response. The aim of preventative treatment is not necessarily to stop every migraine attack but to make them less frequent and easier to manage.1
What is Ajovy?
Ajovy® (fremanezumab-vfrm) is a prescription medication used to help prevent migraine attacks in adults. It is also approved for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in children aged 6 to 17 years who weigh 45 kg or more.2 It belongs to a group of medicines called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists, which target a protein involved in migraine.2-4
How does Ajovy work in migraine prevention?
Ajovy works by blocking the action of CGRP, helping reduce the frequency of migraine attacks in susceptible individuals.2-4 In clinical studies, Ajovy was shown to help prevent migraine attacks in adults with both episodic and chronic migraine and was generally well tolerated.3,5-7
Ajovy dosage and treatment schedule: What should you know?
For adults, Ajovy is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, it may be given once a month (225 mg) or once every 3 months (675 mg). The once-every-3-month schedule is given as three injections on the same day. Ajovy is typically injected into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.2
What are the common side effects and important safety information?
The most reported side effects reported with Ajovy are reactions where the injection is given, such as pain, redness, and swelling.2
Ajovy may also cause serious side effects, although these are uncommon. These include allergic reactions, which can occur within hours or even up to 1 month after receiving Ajovy. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms such as swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.2
Other serious side effects that have been reported include severe constipation, high blood pressure, and Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition that affects blood circulation, usually in the fingers and toes). Contact your doctor if you experience severe constipation, an increase in blood pressure, or symptoms such as numbness, pain, or colour changes in your fingers or toes.2
What to discuss with your doctor before starting Ajovy?
Before starting Ajovy, talk to your doctor about how often your migraine attacks occur, how severe they are, the medicines you currently take for migraine, and any preventive treatments you have tried before. You may also want to ask about possible side effects and how your treatment will be monitored.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or circulation problems affecting your fingers or toes, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.2 Keeping a headache diary may also help you and your doctor monitor how well the treatment is working over time.1
How can Rx4u support medicine access through a Named Patient Program?
Ajovy is approved for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults in several countries. However, availability may vary across India. Where appropriate treatment options are limited, eligible patients may be able to access Ajovy through a Named Patient Program (NPP) with approval from their treating doctor and the required medical documentation.8
Support services such as Rx4U may assist patients and caregivers with documentation, coordination with healthcare providers, and managing import and delivery logistics.
Conclusion: Managing migraine with the right preventive guidance
Frequent migraine attacks can affect your daily life, and medicines taken during an attack may not always be enough if migraines occur often.1 If you're experiencing frequent migraine attacks, your doctor may discuss preventive treatment options such as Ajovy.2 Together, you can decide on the treatment approach that best suits your individual needs. The best outcomes are often achieved through a combination of appropriate treatment selection, realistic expectations, and regular follow-up.1
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Ajovy used for?
Ajovy is a prescription medicine used to help prevent migraine in adults. It is also approved for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in children aged 6 to 17 years who weigh at least 45 kg.2
- Is Ajovy used to prevent migraine attacks?
Yes, its approved role is preventive treatment rather than acute relief during an attack.2
- How is Ajovy usually given?
It is usually given as a subcutaneous injection, either monthly or quarterly.2
- What are the common side effects of Ajovy?
The most common side effect is reactions at the injection site, such as pain, redness, or swelling.2
- How can patients access Ajovy with support?
In settings where it is not routinely available, support services such as Rx4u may assist with documentation, coordination, and import-related processes.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) should only be taken under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. Patients should always consult their doctor or pharmacist for advice on diagnosis, treatment, and medication use, and should not make changes to their prescribed therapy without medical supervision.
References:
- Kumar A, Kadian R. Migraine prophylaxis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507873/
- Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm). Prescribing information. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.ajovy.com/globalassets/ajovy/ajovy-pi.pdf
- Urits I, Clark G, An D, et al. An evidence-based review of fremanezumab for the treatment of migraine. Pain Ther. 2020;9(1):195-215. doi:10.1007/s40122-020-00159-3
- Chiang CC, Schwedt TJ. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeted therapies as preventive and acute treatments for migraine-The monoclonal antibodies and gepants. Prog Brain Res. 2020;255:143-170. doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.06.019
- Silberstein SD, Dodick DW, Bigal ME, et al. Fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(22):2113-2122. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1709038
- Dodick DW, Silberstein SD, Bigal ME, et al. Effect of fremanezumab compared with placebo for prevention of episodic migraine: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;319(19):1999-2008. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4853
- Ferrari MD, Diener HC, Ning X, et al. Fremanezumab versus placebo for migraine prevention in patients with documented failure to up to four migraine preventive medication classes (FOCUS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3b trial. Lancet. 2019;394(10203):1030-1040. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31946-4
- Patil S. Early access programs: benefits, challenges, and key considerations for successful implementation. Perspect Clin Res. 2016;7(1):4-8. doi:10.4103/2229-3485.173779
Note:
The information provided is for education purpose only and is subjected to prescribing information of the drug and the guidance of your treating physician. Always consult your health care provider before making any medical decision for starting your treatment.
Disclaimer:
Rx4U procures prescribed medicines directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors. It does not claim ownership of any trademarks and complies with the provisions of the Trademark Act, 1999, particularly Sections 30 and 30(1) concerning ‘Fair Use’. It solely facilitates access to new launches through named patient import.
