Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed to treat migraine episodes with or without an aura in adults. Migraine is a condition that often includes a severe headache and other symptoms, such as auras.
Ubrelvy belongs to a drug class called calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists. Ubrelvy is not available as a generic drug.
Read on for more information about Ubrelvy. You can also refer to this article for a comprehensive look at Ubrelvy.
Ubrelvy is approved for the immediate treatment of migraine in adults. The drug isn’t approved to prevent migraine episodes from happening.
Migraine is a condition that often includes a severe headache and other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to sound or light. Migraine can occur with or without an aura. An aura is a group of symptoms that cause sensory disturbances, such as tingling on one side of your body or seeing bright flashes of light.
It isn’t known for sure what causes migraine. But a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is thought to play a role. A high level of CGRP in your brain can cause swollen blood vessels in your head. This swelling can lead to severe pain and other migraine symptoms.
For more information, see the “Migraine explained” section below.
The way Ubrelvy works
Ubrelvy belongs to a group of drugs called CGRP antagonists. The drug attaches to CGRP receptors in your brain. (Receptors are proteins on the outside of cells that act like docking stations.) This leads to lower levels of CGRP in your brain, which then eases your migraine symptoms.
Most people who take Ubrelvy experience relief from their migraine symptoms within 2 hours of taking a dose.
If you have questions about the way Ubrelvy works to treat migraine, talk with your doctor.
Ubrelvy is approved for the immediate treatment of migraine in adults.
Below are the dosages of Ubrelvy that are commonly recommended. However, the dosage of Ubrelvy your doctor prescribes will depend on other health conditions you have. It may also depend on other medications you take. If you have questions about the dosage that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Dosage
Ubrelvy comes in two strengths: 50 milligrams (mg) and 100 mg. The typical dosage of the drug is one tablet as needed.
How to take
You should take Ubrelvy as soon as possible after the start of your migraine symptoms. If your first dose doesn’t relieve your symptoms or your symptoms come back, you can take a second dose. But be sure to wait at least 2 hours after your first dose before taking the second dose.
How often to take
You should not take more than 200 mg of Ubrelvy in 24 hours. You also should not take Ubrelvy for the treatment of more than eight migraine episodes every 30 days.
If you have questions about how often you should use Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor.
The use of Ubrelvy for migraine (its only approved use) may cause side effects that are mild or serious. The lists below include some of the main side effects that have been reported. For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our Ubrelvy side effects article or refer to the drug’s prescribing information.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a medication, it tracks side effects of the drug. If you develop a side effect while taking Ubrelvy and would like to inform the FDA, visit MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Mild side effects that can happen with Ubrelvy include:
These side effects of Ubrelvy may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if they last longer, or if they bother you or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Rarely, serious side effects may occur with Ubrelvy. These can include an allergic reaction. After Ubrelvy became available for use, some people reported allergic reaction that occurred minutes, hours, or days after taking the drug. There aren’t any other known serious side effects from Ubrelvy.
Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while using Ubrelvy. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
How much Ubrelvy costs is based on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, the insurance plan you have, the pharmacy you use, and your location.
Ubrelvy is a brand-name medication. It isn’t available as a generic. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.
Read on for answers to some questions frequently asked about Ubrelvy.
Can Ubrelvy be used to treat chronic migraine?
It isn’t likely that Ubrelvy will be used to treat chronic migraine.
Migraine is a condition that often includes a severe headache and other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to sound or light. With chronic migraine, severe headaches happen on at least 15 days each month for at least 3 months. And for at least 8 of these days, other migraine symptoms also occur.
Ubrelvy is used for the immediate treatment of migraine. The drug should not be used to treat more than eight migraine episodes each month. Because chronic migraine can occur on more than 8 days each month, Ubrelvy may not be the best option to treat this condition.
Chronic migraine is better treated with a medication that helps prevent migraine from happening. (Ubrelvy isn’t used to prevent migraine.)
Examples of drugs that can be used to help prevent migraine include propranolol (Inderal) and topiramate (Topamax).
If you have chronic migraine and have questions about the treatment that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Is Ubrelvy approved to treat cluster headaches?
No, Ubrelvy isn’t approved to treat cluster headaches.
Cluster headaches are painful headaches that occur several times per day. They typically happen suddenly and without warning. Cluster headaches usually affect only one side of your head and the area around your eyes. They last about 1 hour and then quickly fade.
Ubrelvy is approved for the immediate treatment of migraine headaches. These headaches are different from cluster headaches. The headache pain from migraine usually lasts several hours. The pain also occurs along with other symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to sound or light.
If you have cluster headaches and would like to learn about possible treatments, talk with your doctor.
Ubrelvy is used to treat migraine that occurs with or without an aura.
Migraine is a condition that often includes a severe headache and other symptoms. It can last for several hours or days.
Migraine can happen with or without an aura. An aura is a group of symptoms that cause sensory disturbances. These include:
- loss of vision
- seeing bright flashes of light
- tingling or numbness on one side of your body
- trouble speaking
It isn’t known for sure what causes migraine. But a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is thought to play a role. CGRP is found in your brain. High levels of CGRP can cause swollen blood vessels in your head. This swelling can lead to severe pain and other migraine symptoms.
Symptoms of migraine
In addition to severe headache, other symptoms that may occur with migraine include:
- fatigue
- irritability or other mood changes
- nausea and vomiting
- sensitivity to sound or light
Who Ubrelvy is prescribed for
Ubrelvy is prescribed for adults with migraine. The drug isn’t prescribed for use in children. Ubrelvy also should not be used in people with end-stage kidney disease.
The
- can’t use a type of migraine drug called a triptan
- have migraine that didn’t ease after treatment with at least two other triptan medications
Examples of triptan drugs include rizatriptan (Maxalt and Maxalt-MLT) and sumatriptan (Imitrex).
Ubrelvy has been found effective for the treatment of migraine in adults. The
To learn about the drug’s clinical studies, see the prescribing information for Ubrelvy.
Before you use Ubrelvy, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned below.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Ubrelvy:
- if you use certain medications that affect the way Ubrelvy is broken down in your body (see this article for more information)
- if you have problems with your kidneys, such as chronic kidney disease
- if you have problems with your liver, such as liver disease
- if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- if you’re breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding
- if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Ubrelvy or any of its ingredients
Now that you’ve learned about Ubrelvy for migraine, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can advise you on whether Ubrelvy might be right for you.
Here are some other helpful references:
- More details. For details about other aspects of Ubrelvy, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn more about side effects of Ubrelvy, see this article. You can also look at Ubrelvy’s prescribing information.
- Drug comparison. Find out how Ubrelvy compares with Imitrex and other triptan drugs.
- Interactions. You can learn about the interactions of Ubrelvy by viewing this article.
- Cost. If you’d like details on Ubrelvy and cost, refer to this article.
- Information about migraine. For more information about migraine, see our headache and migraine hub, as well as this list of related articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.