From the Guidelines
Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is used for the acute treatment of migraine headaches with or without aura in adults, to stop migraine attacks once they've started, not for prevention. The medication works by blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors, which are involved in pain transmission during migraines 1.
Key Points:
- The typical dosage is 50 mg or 100 mg taken orally as a single dose, with a second dose possible if needed at least 2 hours after the first dose.
- No more than 200 mg should be taken within 24 hours.
- Ubrelvy should be taken at the first sign of a migraine for best results, and can be taken with or without food.
- Unlike older migraine medications called triptans, Ubrelvy doesn't constrict blood vessels, making it potentially safer for people with cardiovascular risk factors 1.
- Common side effects may include nausea, tiredness, and dry mouth.
- It's essential to inform your doctor about all other medications you take, as some can interact with Ubrelvy. According to the most recent guideline evidence, ubrogepant is suggested for the short-term treatment of migraine 1.
Comparison with Other Treatments:
- Other medications like eletriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan are also recommended for the short-term treatment of migraine 1.
- Aspirin-acetaminophen-caffeine is another option for the short-term treatment of migraine 1.
- However, ubrogepant has a unique mechanism of action that does not involve vasoconstriction, making it a potentially safer option for patients with cardiovascular risk factors 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
UBRELVY is a prescription medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. UBRELVY is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults.
Ubrelvy (Ubrogepant) is used for:
- The acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults.
- It is not used to prevent migraine headaches 2, 2.
From the Research
Ubrelvy (Ubrogepant) Usage
- Ubrelvy (Ubrogepant) is used for the acute treatment of migraine headaches with or without aura in adults 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- It is an orally bioavailable calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist (gepant) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose 4
- Ubrogepant can be administered as 50- and 100-mg tablets, with a maximum dose of 200 mg within 48 hours 4
Mechanism and Efficacy
- Ubrogepant works by antagonizing the CGRP receptor, which is a key mediator of migraine pain 4, 5, 6
- Studies have shown that ubrogepant is effective in alleviating migraine-associated symptoms such as nausea, photophobia, and sound sensitivity 4, 6
- Ubrogepant has been shown to provide freedom from pain and absence of the most bothersome symptom at 2 hours after the dose in a significant percentage of participants 6
Safety and Tolerability
- Ubrogepant has been found to be safe and well-tolerated in clinical trials, with the most common adverse events being nausea, somnolence, and dry mouth 6, 7
- Long-term intermittent use of ubrogepant has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, with a low incidence of treatment-related adverse events and serious adverse events 7
- Ubrogepant is not effective as a preventive migraine therapy, and its use should be limited to the acute treatment of migraine attacks 4