Storing Emgality correctly is crucial to ensuring its effectiveness in preventing migraines. Exposure to temperatures outside the recommended range, or improper storage and handling, can quickly lead to a loss of efficacy and seriously compromise the success of your treatment.
The following article provides valuable information about how to store your Emgality pens and syringes, whether at home or traveling.
Related article: 10 Travel Tips For People With Chronic Migraines!
What is Emgality?
Emgality is a prescription medication approved by Health Canada and used to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of migraines in adults. It can also be prescribed to treat episodic cluster headaches.
It contains the active drug galcanezumab-gnlm, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein often responsible for migraines.
Emgality is an injectable medication. It’s administered via subcutaneous injection (under the skin), generally once a month. It is only available with a prescription and should only be used under medical supervision.
Emgality Vs. Aimovig?
Both Emgality and Aimovig are injectable drugs used to treat and prevent migraines in adults, but they work in slightly different ways.
Aimovig contains a different active ingredient: erenumab-aooe, a monoclonal antibody that also blocks the CGRP receptor.
In terms of effectiveness, both Emgality and Aimovig have been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. However, some people may respond better to one medication than the other, and it may take some trial and error to find the one that works best for
you.
In any case, whether you should take Emgality, Aimovig, or other drugs like Ajovy for migraines should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Related article: How Long Can Aimovig Be Out of The Fridge?
How To Store Emgality?
Emgality is available in two different injection devices:
- Prefilled syringes with 120 mg of galcanezumab-gnlm in 1.5 mL of solution
- Prefilled pens with 120 mg of galcanezumab-gnlm in 1 mL of solution.
Talk to your doctor regarding what device is best for you. Both the syringe and the pen are intended for single use only and should be disposed of after use.
Whether delivered in a syringe or injector pen, Emgality is a temperature-sensitive drug that requires specific storage conditions.
Storage instructions
According to Eli Lilly and Company, Emgality’s manufacturer, the migraine injection must be stored “in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C.
It then adds some flexibility, stating, "Emgality may be stored out of the refrigerator in the original carton at temperatures up to 30°C for up to 7 days.
Once your syringe or pen has been taken out of the fridge, it should not be placed back inside and must be used within 7 days.
Additionally, to ensure Emgality's effectiveness, your injections should never freeze, be exposed to too much light, or be shaken.
Related article: Summer heat and migraines: How to prevent migraine in hot weather?
How Long Can Emgality Be Unrefrigerated?
As mentioned above, Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) can only stay unrefrigerated for up to 7 days. Besides, in no case should it be exposed to temperatures above 30°C.
How to keep Emgality cold when traveling?
Consequently, there are situations where keeping your migraine injections cool may be challenging, mainly:
- If you’re living in or traveling to places where the outside temperatures may get over 30°C, like during summer days or at hot-weather destinations. In that case, you must ensure your pens or syringes never get exposed to high temperatures.
- If you’re traveling with Emgality for longer than 7 days. In that case, you must use a medical-grade travel fridge to guarantee your injections aren't unrefrigerated for more than 7 days.
That’s precisely what 4AllFamily’s Travel Coolers have been designed for.
The Companion Soft Medical Cooler Bag is specifically designed to protect delicate medications like Emgality from heat damage. It can maintain a safe temperature range of 2 - 26°C for up to 10 hours, even when the outside temperature reaches 40°C. This makes it the ideal storage solution for keeping your Emgality pens and syringes cool during hot summer days!
Additionally, traveling with refrigerated and temperature-sensitive drugs like Emgality or Aimovig implies taking extra precautions:
- Always keep your injection devices in the shade
- Never leave your injections in the car
- Never place them near a heat source (stove, fireplace, barbecue, etc.)
Related article: How to Safely Travel with Refrigerated Medications?
FAQs About Storing Emgality
What happens when Emgality is not refrigerated?
Emgality’s active ingredient is galcanezumab-gnlm, a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are complex protein molecules sensitive to temperature changes and light.
If Emgality is not refrigerated or is exposed to temperatures outside of the recommended range, the drug may quickly degrade, leading to a loss of effectiveness. As a result, Emgality may not be as effective in preventing migraines, and your treatment may become unsuccessful.
If you have concerns about the effectiveness of your Emgality pens or syringes, immediately consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Related article: Flying With A Migraine: 5 Tips For Taming Migraines On The Plane
How long does Emgality last in the fridge?
Emgality should be refrigerated at a temperature between 2°C to 8°C until it's ready to be used. When stored properly in the refrigerator, unopened Emgality can last up to the expiration date printed on the package, typically about a year from the purchase date.
Always check the expiration date on your Emgality pen or syringe before the injection. Never use expired medication.
Once an Emgality prefilled syringe or pen is removed from the refrigerator and brought to room temperature, it should be used within 7 days. Discard any pens or syringes that have been out of the fridge for longer than 7 days, even if the expiration date hasn't passed.
Can you put Emgality back in the fridge?
According to its manufacturer, Emgality should not be returned to the refrigerator once it has been brought to room temperature. Exposing Emgality to temperature fluctuations can seriously affect the medication's stability and effectiveness.
Can you freeze Emgality?
No, Emgality should not be frozen. Freezing can cause the migraine drug to denature, affecting its effectiveness in preventing migraines.
If Emgality accidentally freezes, do not use it, even if it has thawed afterward.
Related article: What’s the Relationship Between High Altitude and Migraines?
