Migraine is much more than a headache. But today, you have more options to treat it than ever before. Most migraine medicines come as a pill, but a few come as an infusion.
An infusion delivers the medicine directly into your bloodstream. Because an infusion gets into your body more quickly than a pill, it works faster. These are some of the migraine medicines that come as an infusion:
- Eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti) prevents migraine attacks.
- Dihydroergotamine (DHE) treats a migraine once it starts.
- Migraine cocktails combine fluids, pain relievers, anti-nausea drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other medicines to treat migraines.
Eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti) Infusion Therapy
How to get ready for your appointment
You don't need to do much to prepare for an infusion therapy appointment. But there are a few things you can do to make the process go more smoothly.
- Wear comfortable clothes. Make sure your shirt is loose enough to roll up your sleeves past your elbow.
- Drink lots of water before your visit to stay hydrated.
- Pack an extra sweatshirt or sweater in case the infusion center is cold.
- Bring a list of all the medicines you take.
- Check with your doctor to make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in eptinezumab-jjmr.
Ask your doctor what else you can do to prepare for your visit and what to expect at the appointment.
Dosage for eptinezumab-jjmr infusion
Most people take 100 milligrams (mg) of eptinezumab-jjmr. Those who don't get relief from 100 mg may need the bigger dose of 300 mg.
How you get eptinezumab-jjmr infusions
You can get eptinezumab-jjmr infusions at a doctor's office, an infusion center, or give it to yourself at home.
You'll get the infusion once every three months. If you do it at home, your medical team will teach you how to give yourself the infusion.
What to expect
The person giving you the infusion will:
- Place a small plastic tube into a vein, usually in your arm, with a needle inside the tube.
- Will put the needle in, you may feel a little stick when the needle goes in.
- Take the needle out and tape the tube in place.
- Attach the tube in your arm to a longer tube that contains the medicine.
A eptinezumab-jjmr infusion takes about 30 minutes. Other types of infusions may take longer. While the infusion is happening, you can read, listen to music, or just relax.
Your total appointment time can vary, depending on where you have the infusion. When you're finished, you'll schedule your next infusion appointment.
How quickly does eptinezumab-jjmr infusion therapy work?
Eptinezumab-jjmr infusions usually start to work on the first day of treatment. When you get it once every three months, it should work continuously to prevent migraine.
In studies, eptinezumab-jjmr infusion lowered the number of migraine days compared to an inactive infusion (placebo). Because it works so quickly, this medicine can also shorten migraine attacks.
Possible reactions
Rarely, eptinezumab-jjmr infusions can cause an allergic reaction. During your treatment, let the person doing your infusion know right away if you have:
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Redness in your face
- Hives
- Trouble breathing
- Rash
If you have symptoms once you get home, get medical help right away and go to the nearest hospital.
Dihydroergotamine (DHE) Infusion Therapy
For dihydroergotamine infusions, which treats a migraine once it starts, you'll get the medicine through several IV injections at an emergency room or infusion center. DHE can also treat a migraine lasting more than 72 hours, known as status migrainosus.
What to expect
You’ll likely be admitted to the hospital for around four days. After blood work and an ECG, you will be placed on a heart monitor and receive several IV injections for DHE.
Dosage for DHE
Your doctor may start with a 0.5 mg dose of DHE to test how well your body can tolerate the drug. After that, you may get another 0.5 mg dose and then 1 mg every eight hours, along with some medicine for nausea, if you need it.
The highest dose for a DHE treatment is 11 mg, so you will receive the medicine until that dosage is reached or the migraine is gone.
Questions for your doctor
If you have any questions about eptinezumab-jjmr, DHE, or any other infusion therapy for migraine, ask your doctor.
Before your appointment, make sure you know what to expect and what side effects the infusion might cause. Write down any questions and bring a list of your medications. You can also ask a friend or family member to come along. They can provide support and help you ask questions, too.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock
SOURCES:
American Migraine Foundation: "Dihydroergotamine (DHE) For Migraine Treatment."
Barrow Neurological Institute: “Dihydroergotamine Infusion Overview.”
Cleveland Clinic: "Migraine Headaches."
Cureus: "A Review of Eptinezumab Use in Migraine."
FDA: "Highlights of Prescribing Information: Vyepti."
Nationwide Children's: "IV (Intravenous) Therapy."
Vyepti.com: "Frequently Asked Questions," "Getting Ready for Vyepti."
