ADUHELM DISCONTINUEDConsiderable controversy surrounded Aduhelm after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted it
accelerated approval in 2021. (For more information about the approval controversy, see this article.) More recently, the manufacturer of Aduhelm discontinued production and sales of the drug. If your doctor prescribed Aduhelm for you, contact them to learn about treatment options for your condition. If you were part of a clinical trial for Aduhelm, contact your clinical trial study team.
Aduhelm (aducanumab-avwa) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The drug comes as a liquid solution for intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. It’s usually given once every 4 weeks.
Aduhelm is used in adults to treat early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug is prescribed for people with Alzheimer’s who have either mild cognitive (thinking) impairment or mild dementia.
The active ingredient in Aduhelm is aducanumab-avwa. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Aduhelm is a biologic drug made from living cells. It belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies.
This article describes the dosages of Aduhelm, as well as its strengths and how it’s given. To learn more about Aduhelm, see this in-depth article.
The table below highlights the basics of Aduhelm’s dosage. The drug strength is listed in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). The dosage is listed in mg of drug per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg).
| Aduhelm strength | Recommended maintenance dosage |
| 100 mg/mL | 10 mg/kg given as an infusion (over 60 minutes) once every 4 weeks |
Keep reading to learn more about Aduhelm’s dosage.
What is Aduhelm’s form?
Aduhelm is available as a liquid solution that comes in a vial. It’s given as an IV infusion (an injection into your vein over a period of time). It’s prepared and given by a healthcare professional at a hospital or clinic.
What strengths does Aduhelm come in?
Aduhelm comes in one strength of 100 mg/mL.
What are the usual dosages of Aduhelm?
Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage of Aduhelm and slowly adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you.
The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for Alzheimer’s disease
The typical Aduhelm dosage for adults with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease is based on a dosing schedule and body weight.
Before you begin treatment with Aduhelm, your doctor will likely do an MRI scan of the brain. They’ll also do brain MRI scans throughout your Aduhelm treatment to monitor for certain changes. (See the “Boxed warning” at the top of this article for more information.)
Your doctor will start you on a low dosage of Aduhelm and slowly increase your dose until you reach the recommended maintenance dose.
Your doctor or another health professional will give you Aduhelm infusions. These infusions will last about 1 hour. You’ll receive Aduhelm doses once every 4 weeks according to the following dosing schedule:
- Doses 1 and 2: Your dose is 1 mg per kg* of body weight. (For example, if you weigh 90 kg, your dose is 90 mg for doses 1 and 2.)
- Doses 3 and 4: Your dose is 3 mg per kg of body weight.
- Doses 5 and 6: Your dose is 6 mg per kg of body weight.
- Dose 7 and beyond: Your dose is 10 mg per kg of body weight.
* One kg equals about 2.2 pounds.
Is Aduhelm used long term?
Aduhelm was intended to be a long-term treatment. However, Biogen, the manufacturer of Aduhelm, has discontinued production and sales of Aduhelm.
If your doctor prescribed Aduhelm for you, contact them to learn about your treatment options for your condition. If you were part of a clinical trial for Aduhelm, contact your clinical trial study team.
Dosage adjustments
In certain cases, you may need dosage adjustments for Aduhelm.
If you experience certain side effects from Aduhelm, including ARIA seen on a brain MRI scan, your doctor may adjust how often you receive the medication. (For more information on ARIA, see the “Boxed warning” at the top of this article.)
Based on the severity of your side effects, your doctor may also pause or stop your treatment.
The dosage of Aduhelm you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:
- side effects you may be experiencing (see the “Dosage adjustments” section above)
- your body weight
Aduhelm is available as a liquid solution that comes in a vial. It’s given as an IV infusion. The infusions take about an hour. It’s prepared and given by a healthcare professional at a hospital or clinic. You’ll receive an infusion once every 4 weeks.
Before you begin treatment with Aduhelm, your doctor will likely do an MRI scan of the brain. They’ll also do brain MRI scans throughout your Aduhelm treatment to monitor for certain changes. (See the “Boxed warning” at the top of this article for more information.)
If you have questions about how you receive Aduhelm, talk with your doctor to learn more.
If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Aduhelm, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. Keep in mind that the manufacturer of Aduhelm recommends that doses be given at least 21 days apart.
If you need help remembering your appointments, try downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Aduhelm’s dosage.
Is Aduhelm’s dosage similar to the dosages for Leqembi?
The forms of these two drugs and how they’re given are similar. Aduhelm (aducanumab-avwa) and Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb) are both biologic drugs prescribed to treat early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They both come as a liquid solution for IV infusion and are given by a healthcare professional.
However, their dosages are slightly different (both given in milligrams per kilogram):
- The maintenance dose of Aduhelm is 10 mg/kg given every 4 weeks.
- The maintenance dose of Leqembi is 10 mg/kg given every 2 weeks.
To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Aduhelm to start working?
Aduhelm starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
If you have other questions about what to expect from your Aduhelm treatment, talk with your doctor.
The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by Aduhelm’s manufacturer. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about Aduhelm’s dosage. Note that the manufacturer of Aduhelm has discontinued production and sales of Aduhelm.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Since the drugmaker has stopped making Aduhelm, should we stop my treatment now or continue it until the drug is no longer available?
- How does the dosage of Aduhelm compare with the dosage of Aricept (donepezil)?
- Is it safe to simply stop Aduhelm, or does my dosage need to be tapered?
To learn more about Aduhelm, see this article: Aduhelm (aducanumab-avwa).
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.