Emgality vs. Imitrex

Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) and Imitrex (sumatriptan) are indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

Emgality and Imitrex belong to different drug classes. Emgality is a calcitonin-gene related peptide antagonist and Imitrex is a selective serotonin receptor agonist (a "triptan").

Side effects of Emgality that are different from Imitrex include injection site reactions (such as pain, redness, and itching).

Side effects of Imitrex that are different from Emgality include mild headache (not a migraine), chest pan or tightness, pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body, weakness, feeling hot or cold, dizziness, spinning sensation, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, drooling, unusual taste in your mouth after using nasal spray, burning/numbness/pain/irritation in your nose or throat after using nasal spray, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling under the skin).

Emgality may interact with other drugs.

Imitrex may interact with other migraine headache medicines, medicines to treat depression or a psychiatric disorder, medicines for Parkinson's disease, medicines for serious infections, certain herbal products, stimulants, narcotics, and medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Common side effects of Emgality include:

• injection site reactions such as pain, redness, and itching

Common side effects of Imitrex include:

• mild headache (not a migraine),
• pain or chest tightness,
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body,
• weakness,
• feeling hot or cold,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• drowsiness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• drooling,
• unusual taste in your mouth after using nasal spray,
• burning/numbness/pain/irritation in your nose or throat after using nasal spray, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling under the skin).

Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) is a calcitonin-gene related peptide antagonist indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

Imitrex (sumatriptan) is a selective serotonin receptor agonist used in oral, intranasal or injectable dosage form to treat migraine headaches. Imitrex is available as a generic drug.

Emgality may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Imitrex may interact with sibutramine (Meridia); monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) isocarboxazid (Marplan); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), serotonin; norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, venlafaxine (Effexor)) and duloxetine (Cymbalta); and ergot-containing medications, dihydroergotamine (Migranal) and ergotamine (Methergine).

The recommended dosage of Emgality is a 240 mg loading dose (administered as two consecutive injections of 120 mg each), followed by monthly doses of 120 mg.

The maximum single recommended adult dose of Imitrex Injection for the acute treatment of migraine or cluster headache is 6 mg injected subcutaneously. For the treatment of migraine, if side effects are dose limiting, lower doses (1 mg to 5 mg) of Imitrex may be used.