From the Research
There is no established link between Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) and nonepileptic seizures, and patients experiencing seizure-like activity while taking Ubrelvy should consult their healthcare provider immediately to rule out any potential relationship between the medication and their symptoms. Ubrelvy is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist approved for the acute treatment of migraine headaches, working by blocking CGRP receptors involved in pain transmission during migraines 1. Nonepileptic seizures, also called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) or functional seizures, are episodes resembling epileptic seizures but not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and are thought to be psychological in origin, often related to stress, trauma, or other emotional factors 2, 3, 4.
Key Considerations
- Nonepileptic seizures are common in neurological settings and significantly affect quality of life, functional status, and use of medical resources 3.
- The psychological mechanisms underlying PNES are poorly understood, and there is a lack of well-established, evidence-based treatments 2.
- Stress coping strategies employed by patients with PNES can have a significant impact on their psychopathology, with ineffective strategies potentially fueling psychopathology 5.
- Patients with PNES may benefit from assessing stress coping strategies to identify useful behavioral targets for psychotherapy 5.
Recommendations
- If experiencing seizure-like activity while taking Ubrelvy, patients should contact their healthcare provider immediately to determine if there's any relationship between the medication and their symptoms.
- Healthcare providers may recommend temporarily discontinuing Ubrelvy and suggesting alternative migraine treatments, such as triptans, NSAIDs, or other CGRP antagonists, depending on the patient's specific situation.
- Patients with PNES should be evaluated for stress coping strategies and potentially referred for psychotherapy to address underlying psychological symptoms.