There is not a specific warning against alcohol (ethanol) consumption with Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), a medicine used to prevent migraine headaches. However, drinking alcoholic beverages can trigger or worsen a migraine headache in many people. It may be best to avoid alcohol if you take Aimovig and fall into these categories.

• Red wine has been noted to especially aggravate migraine headaches. Other alcoholic beverages, including beer or hard liquor, can also worsen or cause symptoms.
• Excessive caffeine, and some aged cheese or processed foods, especially those that may contain tyramine, can worsen migraines.
• Certain food additives like the artificial sweetener aspartame, preservatives like sulfites, and the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) are also linked with migraine headaches.

Aimovig is an injectable migraine medicine in the class of drugs known as CGRP inhibitors. Aimovig is used monthly for migraine prevention.

Does Aimovig interact with alcohol?

The package insert for Aimovig does not list alcohol as a drug interaction. Aimovig is not metabolized (broken down) by any cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, according to the manufacturer. A pharmacokinetic interaction between alcohol and Aimovig is not expected.

Excessive alcohol use can lead to liver disease and cirrhosis, which can affect the way some drugs work in your body. Alcohol is a substrate of the liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme CYP2E1, and depending upon the amount and frequency of intake alcohol can also be either an inducer or inhibitor of CYP2E1.

The manufacturer has not conducted clinical studies to evaluate the effect of hepatic (liver) impairment on Aimovig. However, they state that liver impairment is not expected to affect how Aimovig is absorbed, distributed, broken down or eliminated from your body (its pharmacokinetics). No dose adjustments for liver disease are listed.

However, for elderly patients over the age of 65 years, dose selection for Aimovig should be cautious, starting at the low end of the dosage range due to the greater chance for liver, kidney, or heart disease, other medical conditions or drug interactions.

Bottom Line

• There is no warning in the product labeling against alcohol (ethanol) consumption with the migraine preventive medicine Aimovig (erenumab-aooe).
• However, drinking alcoholic beverages can trigger a migraine headache in many people, or may worsen a headache.
• It may be best to avoid alcohol if you take Aimovig and fall into these categories.

This is not all the information you need to know about Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) for safe and effective use. Review the full product information, and discuss this information with your doctor or other health care provider.