Background and importance Erenumab was approved for migraine prophylaxis shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. After 18 months, there was enough data to conduct several studies.

Aim and objectives Evaluate effectiveness and safety of erenumab using real-world data and compare the results with clinical trials.

Material and methods A retrospective, observational study was performed in a second-level hospital. Evaluation of patients with migraine being treated with erenumab for at least 6 months. Data extraction from clinical histories and prescription software. Patient-related outcomes filled in their clinical history by the neurologist and pharmacist.

Results 55 patients recruited to commence treatment with erenumab between January 2020 and April 2021. 48 patients included (7 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up). 44 women, average age 49.7 years, and 21 days per month with migraine (MMD).

26 patients reached a reduction of MMD of ≥50%, and 10 of ≥75% (54.2% and 20.8%, respectively) after a follow-up of between 3 and 9 months. Of the 22 patients that did not reach at least 50% reduction in MMD, 7 patients tried a dosage increase, with 5 of them achieving an average 61% reduction in MMD. All patients mentioned having softer migraine pain.

Regarding safety, only 11 patients experienced adverse reactions, mostly constipation. Three patients needed to cease treatment.

Conclusion and relevance Erenumab has established a new treatment in migraine prophylaxis that works even better than in the clinical trials. According to clinical trials results, erenumab can reduce MMD by 50% in about 40% of patients regardless of the dosage, and by 75% in about 18.9% of patients. In our findings, erenumab achieved a 50% reduction in 54.2% of patients, and a 75% reduction in 20.8% of patients, achieving better results in real life than in the clinical trials.

Our study has as a limitation the follow-up being carried out by physicians and not by pharmacists, which could improve patient-related outcomes and experiences as hospital pharmacists dispense medication every 2 months in our hospital. The hospital pharmacist’s role can be useful for evaluating treatments results described by patients.

Conflict of interest No conflict of interest