Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is a prescription drug used for immediate migraine symptom treatment. Ubrelvy comes as an oral tablet.

Doctors prescribe Ubrelvy for adults to immediately treat migraine symptoms. It’s not prescribed to help prevent migraine symptoms.

To learn more about Ubrelvy’s uses, see the “Ubrelvy for migraine” section.

Ubrelvy basics

Ubrelvy is a brand-name medication. It contains the active ingredient ubrogepant. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

Ubrelvy belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists.

Ubrelvy is used for immediate treatment of migraine symptoms in adults. Ubrelvy isn’t meant for use in children. And Ubrelvy isn’t used to help prevent migraine symptoms.

With migraine, you can have symptoms such as:

  • severe headaches
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • visual or sensory changes called an aura

Periods when symptoms occur are referred to as migraine episodes or migraine attacks. Ubrelvy can treat migraine episodes that happen with or without an aura.

Ubrelvy works to relieve migraine symptoms by blocking the activity of a specific protein in your body.

Sometimes, doctors treat conditions other than migraine with Ubrelvy. Doing so would be prescribing the drug off-label. With off-label drug use, a drug the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for certain conditions is prescribed for another condition.

If you have questions about how Ubrelvy is used, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Ubrelvy may cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists describe some of the more common side effects that Ubrelvy may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

The side effects of a drug can vary from person to person. And they may depend on:

  • your age
  • your overall health
  • other medications you may be taking
  • the dosage of medication you’re taking
  • other factors

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the possible side effects of Ubrelvy. They can also suggest ways to help reduce the drug’s side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Ubrelvy can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Ubrelvy’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Ubrelvy can include:

For more information about these side effects, see the “Side effect focus” section.

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Ubrelvy can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Ubrelvy, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

In rare cases, some people may experience an allergic reaction to Ubrelvy. The most severe type of allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, can be life threatening. For more information about allergic reaction, see the “Side effect focus” section next.

Side effect focus

Before starting Ubrelvy, be sure to discuss any concerns you have about side effects with your doctor. This will help you decide together whether this medication is right for you.

Here’s information about some side effects of Ubrelvy.

Sleepiness

You may feel tired or sleepy while taking Ubrelvy. This is a common side effect of the drug. In studies, this was reported more often with a higher dosage of the drug than with a lower dosage.

Keep in mind that migraine, which Ubrelvy is used to treat, can lead to tiredness and fatigue (low energy). So it’s important to ask your doctor or pharmacist what you can expect with Ubrelvy treatment.

What might help

Until you become familiar with how Ubrelvy affects you, use caution when participating in activities requiring mental alertness or focus. This could include activities such as driving or operating machinery.

If this is a concern for you, ask your doctor for ways to ease sleepiness. They may recommend tips such as taking walks or trying energizing deep breathing exercises.

Nausea

You may have nausea while you’re taking Ubrelvy. In studies, nausea was the most commonly reported side effect of Ubrelvy.

But keep in mind that migraine can also cause nausea and vomiting. So it’s important to discuss with your doctor how treatment with Ubrelvy may affect you.

What might help

If you’re concerned about having nausea, talk with your doctor before taking Ubrelvy. They can recommend some things to help ease nausea.

For instance, your doctor may suggest things like:

Dry mouth

It’s possible to have dry mouth with Ubrelvy treatment. This occurs when there’s not enough saliva in your mouth. And it can cause uncomfortable effects, including cracked lips, a dry throat, and bad breath.

What might help

Some simple remedies that may help relieve your dry mouth symptoms include the following:

  • Drink more water than usual.
  • Limit your intake of caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol (if applicable).
  • Cut down on salt and sugar intake.
  • Use an over-the-counter mouthwash.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if dry mouth bothers you while you’re using Ubrelvy. They may offer more suggestions to help relieve this side effect.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Ubrelvy.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause difficulty breathing
  • hives and itchy skin

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Ubrelvy. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Ubrelvy. What you’ll pay for Ubrelvy may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding the cost of Ubrelvy:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Ubrelvy when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.)
  • Savings program. If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A savings program that you might be eligible for may also be available on the drug’s website.

To save money on your Ubrelvy prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Ubrelvy that’s right for you. The following text describes commonly used dosages, but always follow the dosage instructions that your doctor provides.

Form and strengths

Ubrelvy comes as a tablet you swallow. It’s available in the following strengths:

  • 50 milligrams (mg)
  • 100 mg

Recommended dosage

You’ll take a dose of Ubrelvy when you need immediate treatment for a migraine episode. Then, you can take a second dose 2 hours after your first dose if needed.

You should not take more than 200 milligrams of the drug within 24 hours. (This is the maximum dosage of the drug.)

Also, you should not take Ubrelvy for more than eight migraine episodes in 30 days. The safety of taking Ubrelvy more often than this isn’t known. So talk with your doctor about how often you should take this drug.

Note: You should avoid taking a second dose of Ubrelvy if you’ve consumed any grapefruit or grapefruit juice within 24 hours of your first dose. Doing so may increase the side effects of Ubrelvy. This is because grapefruit makes the drug stay in your body for longer than usual and can increase its side effects.

Questions about Ubrelvy’s dosage

Here are answers to a few common questions about Ubrelvy’s dosage:

  • What if I miss a dose of Ubrelvy? Ubrelvy is taken for immediate treatment of migraine symptoms. It’s not meant to be used for migraine prevention. So you don’t take it every day. Instead, you’ll take it only when you have migraine symptoms.
  • Will I need to take Ubrelvy long term? If Ubrelvy works well for you, your doctor may recommend that you take it long term, as needed, for migraine episodes. You should discuss your migraine treatment plan with your doctor.
  • How long does Ubrelvy take to work? Ubrelvy starts to work quickly. Most people get relief from migraine symptoms within 2 hours of taking a dose. And the effects of Ubrelvy may last for up to a day or longer.

Ubrelvy is used to manage migraine in adults. Specifically, it’s used for immediate treatment of migraine symptoms. It’s not used to prevent migraine symptoms.

Other drugs are used to treat migraine symptoms. Examples include:

Some examples of medications that prevent migraine symptoms include:

To learn more about alternatives to Ubrelvy, see this migraine medication article. You can also talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you.

For more information about Ubrelvy vs. Imitrex, see “How does Ubrelvy compare with Imitrex?” in the next section.

Here we answer some common questions related to Ubrelvy use.

How does Ubrelvy work? What’s its half-life?

Ubrelvy belongs to a group of drugs called CGRP antagonists. The mechanism of action for these drugs is to block the effects of a protein in your body called CGRP. (The mechanism of action describes how a drug works.)

Studies show that this protein plays a big role in triggering migraine symptoms.

Because CGRP is responsible for pain and inflammation tied to migraine, scientists theorize that medications such as Ubrelvy work by blocking CGRP. Levels of CGRP are increased during migraine episodes. And Ubrelvy helps bring these levels down.

Ubrelvy has a half-life of 5 to 7 hours. This means your body will clear half of a dose of the drug 5 to 7 hours after you take your dose. It takes about five half-lives for your body to fully clear a drug.

If you have more questions about how Ubrelvy works, talk with your doctor.

How does Ubrelvy compare with Imitrex?

Ubrelvy and Imitrex are two different types of migraine medications. While Ubrelvy only comes as an oral tablet, Imitrex comes as an injectable solution and an oral tablet. Both drugs are used for immediate treatment of migraine symptoms. The injectable form of Imitrex is also used for cluster headaches.

Ubrelvy belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists. It works by blocking a specific protein in your body. (To learn more about how Ubrelvy works, see the “How does Ubrelvy work?” question.) Imitrex, on the other hand, belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists. It works by increasing your level of serotonin (a type of brain chemical) and narrowing blood vessels in your brain.

Ubrelvy is a newer medication, and it’s only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come as a generic drug. But Imitrex has been around for a longer period of time. It’s available in both brand-name and generic versions.

These two medications have different side effects, but they also have a few similar side effects. Their similar side effects include nausea and dry mouth. To learn more about the side effects of Imitrex, view the prescribing information for the injectable solution or oral tablet. For more information about Ubrelvy’s side effects, see the “Side effects of Ubrelvy” section.

Keep in mind that not every medication works for every person. So having different treatment choices can help you and your doctor find the best option for you. If you have questions about the differences between Ubrelvy and Imitrex and wonder how they might help your migraine symptoms, talk with your doctor.

Is Ubrelvy a triptan?

No, Ubrelvy doesn’t belong to the group of drugs called triptans. Instead, it’s a CGRP antagonist.

Some other drugs used to manage migraine are triptans. These drugs include rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT) and sumatriptan (Imitrex).

If you’d like information about taking a triptan for migraine treatment, talk with your doctor.

Is Ubrelvy a controlled substance?

No, Ubrelvy isn’t a controlled substance. Controlled substances have the potential to be misused. (With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed.) But Ubrelvy doesn’t carry a risk of misuse.

Lasmiditan (Reyvow) is an example of a migraine drug that’s a controlled substance.

Does Ubrelvy cause weight loss?

No, weight loss wasn’t seen in people during Ubrelvy’s studies. Another drug used for migraine, topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR), may cause weight loss. But Ubrelvy isn’t known to do this.

Keep in mind that migraine episodes can cause nausea and vomiting. In some cases, these symptoms could lead to weight loss.

If you’re having weight loss with Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help you manage a weight that’s healthy for you.

Is Ubrelvy used for tension headaches?

No, Ubrelvy is not approved for treating tension headaches. (These headaches cause pain that may feel like a tight band around your forehead.) Ubrelvy is approved to treat migraine headaches.

If you’d like to learn about treatment options for tension headaches, talk with your doctor.

Your doctor will explain how you should take Ubrelvy. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often to take it. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Taking Ubrelvy

Ubrelvy comes as tablets that you swallow. You should take the medication as soon as you feel a migraine episode starting.

It’s important to note that you should avoid taking a second dose of Ubrelvy if you’ve consumed any grapefruit or grapefruit juice within 24 hours of your first dose. Doing so may increase the side effects of Ubrelvy. This is because grapefruit makes the drug stay in your body for longer than usual and can increase its side effects.

Questions about taking Ubrelvy

Here are some answers to a few common questions related to taking Ubrelvy:

  • Can Ubrelvy be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you shouldn’t crush, chew, or split Ubrelvy tablets. It’s not known whether doing these things will change how the medication works. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, talk with your doctor about other treatment options.
  • Should I take Ubrelvy with food? You can take Ubrelvy with or without food. But keep in mind that both Ubrelvy and migraine may cause nausea. So you’ll have to find out how well your body tolerates Ubrelvy either with food or on an empty stomach.

Using certain medications, vitamins, or foods alongside certain drugs can affect how they all work. These effects are called interactions.

Interactions can change a drug’s effect in your body. And this can lead to two possible outcomes:

  • The drug’s effect is lowered so that it doesn’t work as well as usual.
  • The drug’s effect is raised so that it lasts for longer in your body and may cause increased side effects.

Before taking Ubrelvy, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions Ubrelvy may cause with these items.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Ubrelvy can interact with certain drugs in a way that leads to increased effects of Ubrelvy in your body. These drugs include:

Ubrelvy can also interact with certain medications in a way that leads to lower effects of Ubrelvy in your body. These drugs include:

These lists do not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Ubrelvy. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with the use of Ubrelvy.

Note: Taking certain medications with Ubrelvy is contraindicated. (A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to a risk of harm.) Ask your doctor for more information about medications that are contraindicated with Ubrelvy.

Other interactions

In addition to the medications described previously, Ubrelvy can also interact with other substances. For example:

Ubrelvy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Ubrelvy. Some factors to consider include those in the following list:

  • Liver or kidney disease: If you have problems with kidney or liver function, your body may not be able to clear Ubrelvy like usual. This could increase the amount of Ubrelvy in your body, thereby increasing side effects from the drug. Depending on how your kidney and liver are working, your doctor may adjust your dosage of Ubrelvy. Your doctor can also order blood tests to check the health of your liver and your kidneys before prescribing Ubrelvy to you.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Ubrelvy or any of its ingredients, your doctor won’t prescribe Ubrelvy for your condition. Ask your doctor about which other medications are better options for you.

There isn’t enough information available about the effects of taking Ubrelvy during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the safety of taking Ubrelvy.

Do not take more Ubrelvy than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to serious side effects.

It takes your body around 5 to 7 hours to clear Ubrelvy after you’ve taken a dose of the drug. But if you have liver or kidney problems, the drug could last for longer in your system.

In any case, don’t take more Ubrelvy than your doctor prescribes.

What to do in case you take too much Ubrelvy

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Ubrelvy. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers, or you can use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Q:

Can I take Ubrelvy with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)?

Anonymous

A:

There aren’t any known interactions between Ubrelvy and acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). But you should only take Ubrelvy with an additional pain medication like these if your doctor says you may do so. Keep in mind that Ubrelvy is approved to treat a migraine episode on its own without other drugs.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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.

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