Ubrelvy (ubrogepant)

Ubrelvy is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine episodes in adults. It may be used to treat a migraine episode that occurs with or without an aura.

Migraine is a condition that causes severe headache along with other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light. With an aura, you have visual or sensory symptoms that occur shortly before a migraine episode.

Ubrelvy isn’t used to prevent migraine episodes. Instead, it’s used as an acute (short-acting) treatment for a migraine episode that’s currently happening.

For details about how this drug is used to treat migraine, see the “Ubrelvy: Use for migraine” section below.

The following table provides key facts about Ubrelvy.

If you’re interested in taking this drug, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Ubrelvy contains the active drug ubrogepant. It only comes as a brand-name medication, and it isn’t currently available as a generic drug.

A generic is an identical copy of the active drug found in a brand-name medication. Generics typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

As with other medications, prices for Ubrelvy may vary. The drug’s price will depend on factors such as:

• the pharmacy you use
• your insurance coverage

Here are some things to consider when looking into the cost of Ubrelvy.

Option for a 90-day supply. For some drugs, it’s possible to get a 90-day supply. If this option is approved by your insurance company, it can help lower the cost of the drug. It can also help you avoid frequent trips to your pharmacy. If you’d like to learn more about this option, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance company.

Need for prior authorization. Before insurance coverage for Ubrelvy is approved, your insurance company may require prior authorization. In this case, your doctor and insurance company will communicate about your prescription for Ubrelvy. Then, the insurance company will decide if the drug will be covered. To find out if you need prior authorization for Ubrelvy, contact your insurance company.

Possible cost assistance options. Financial assistance to help lower the cost of Ubrelvy is available. The U-Demand program for Ubrelvy offers a savings card that may help reduce the drug’s cost. To learn more and see if you’re eligible for support, call 844-4UBRELVY (844-482-7358) or visit the manufacturer’s website. Also, check out this article to learn about ways to save on prescription drugs.

Use of a mail-order pharmacy. Ubrelvy may be dispensed through mail-order pharmacies. Getting your prescription through a mail-order pharmacy could lower its cost. It can also allow you to get the drug without leaving home. To find out more about this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance company.

Availability of a generic form. Ubrelvy doesn’t come in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Typically, generics cost less than brand-name drugs.

As with most drugs, it’s possible to have side effects with Ubrelvy. These can include some mild side effects but also some serious ones.

To learn more about Ubrelvy’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may also provide information about managing certain side effects of this drug.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Ubrelvy, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild and serious side effects of Ubrelvy are listed below. This article does not include all of Ubrelvy’s possible side effects.

Mild side effects* of Ubrelvy may include:

• nausea
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• dry mouth
• mild allergic reaction†

Most times, mild side effects of a drug go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if any side effects become severe or don’t go away.

* This is not a complete list of Ubrelvy’s mild side effects. To learn about other mild side effects of this drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or you can view the drug’s prescribing information.
† To learn more about allergic reaction, see below. An allergic reaction is possible after taking Ubrelvy. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies.

Serious side effects of Ubrelvy may include:

• severe allergic reaction*

Serious side effects from Ubrelvy haven’t been reported. If you think you’re having a serious side effect, call your doctor right away. However, if you’re having a medical emergency or your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or a local emergency number.

* To learn more about allergic reaction, see below. An allergic reaction is possible after taking Ubrelvy. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies.

Doctors may prescribe drugs other than Ubrelvy for your condition. Certain drugs may work better for you than others.

Ubrelvy is used to treat migraine episodes. Here’s a summary of other drugs that doctors sometimes prescribe for this condition.

To learn more about some alternatives of Ubrelvy, view the following articles:

• Ubrelvy vs. sumatriptan (Imitrex)
• Ubrelvy vs. triptans

Your doctor can tell you about other similar drugs, such as:

• rimegepant (Nurtec ODT)
• lasmiditan (Reyvow)
• rizatriptan benzoate (Maxalt and Maxalt MLT)
• zolmitriptan (Zomig)

For additional information about alternatives to Ubrelvy, ask your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that could be prescribed for your condition.

Prescription drugs, such as Ubrelvy, are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain conditions. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off-label for other conditions. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Ubrelvy is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the FDA to treat migraine episodes in adults.

The drug may be used to treat a migraine episode that occurs with or without an aura. (With an aura, you have visual or sensory symptoms that occur shortly before a migraine episode.)

Migraine is a condition that causes headache and other symptoms that occur in episodes. These episodes vary in their frequency, severity, and symptoms.

Symptoms of a migraine episode may include:

• throbbing pain on one or both sides of your head
• sensitivity to light or sound
• nausea and vomiting
• mood changes
• brain fog

Ubrelvy isn’t used to prevent migraine episodes. Instead, it’s an acute (short-acting) treatment for a migraine episode that’s currently happening.

If you have migraine, talk with your doctor to find out if Ubrelvy may be right for you.

Ubrelvy is only approved for use in adults. It isn’t known if the drug may be safe or effective in people younger than 18 years of age.

If you’re interested in taking Ubrelvy, you can find a doctor who might prescribe it by searching here. You can also prepare for your appointment by visiting the Healthgrades appointment guide for migraine.

Below, you’ll find dosages that are commonly recommended for Ubrelvy. However, you should take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll recommend the dosage and dosing instructions that are best for your needs.

Most often, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of Ubrelvy. Then, they’ll change the dosage over time to an amount that’s right for the condition being treated. Doctors typically prescribe the smallest dosage that gives the desired outcome.

The dosage of Ubrelvy that your doctor prescribes will depend on factors such as:

• other medications you take
• other conditions you have, such as liver or kidney problems
• the severity of the migraine episode you’re using Ubrelvy to treat

Ubrelvy comes as oral tablets.

Ubrelvy is available in the following strengths:

• 50 milligrams (mg)
• 100 mg

Recommended dosages for Ubrelvy are described below.

Recommended dosages for Ubrelvy in adults are as follows:

• Dose: 50 mg or 100 mg
• Frequency: Take one dose as soon as possible after a migraine episode starts. If the migraine episode isn’t eased or it goes away and comes back, you can take a second dose of Ubrelvy. This second dose may be taken at least 2 hours after the first dose was taken.
• Maximum daily dose: 200 mg in a 24-hour period

It isn’t known if it’s safe to take Ubrelvy to treat more than eight migraine episodes within a 30-day period. Your doctor may have you keep track of your migraine episodes, including when they each occur.

Below is something to consider about Ubrelvy’s dosage.

• Length of treatment. Doctors typically prescribe Ubrelvy as a long-term treatment. However, the drug is an acute (short-acting) treatment for a migraine episode that’s currently happening. As such, you’ll only take Ubrelvy if you need it, to treat up to eight migraine episodes per month. Ubrelvy isn’t used to prevent migraine episodes. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how to take Ubrelvy for migraine.

Ubrelvy is used to treat migraine episodes in adults. It belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists.

Migraine is a condition that causes migraine episodes. During an episode, you may have a severe headache on one or both sides of your head. You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light.

During a migraine episode, the nervous system releases substances that cause inflammation. This inflammation contributes to pain and other symptoms.

Ubrelvy’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to block a small protein in the brain called CGRP. This protein is thought to cause inflammation and pain in the nervous system related to a migraine episode. By blocking CGRP, Ubrelvy can help ease migraine pain and other symptoms.

Ubrelvy starts working right away after you take a dose. Most people notice their migraine symptoms easing or going away within 2 hours of taking the drug.

Your doctor will recommend how you should take Ubrelvy. It’s important to take the drug exactly as your doctor instructs.

Ubrelvy comes as an oral tablet that you’ll swallow.

Here’s a list of common questions related to taking Ubrelvy.

• Do I need to take Ubrelvy with food? You can take Ubrelvy with food or without it.
• Can Ubrelvy be chewed, split, or crushed? Ubrelvy tablets aren’t designed to be chewed, split, or crushed. In the drug’s clinical studies, the tablets were swallowed whole. As such, the manufacturer of Ubrelvy recommends swallowing Ubrelvy tablets whole. If you have trouble swallowing pills, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.  
• Is there a best time of day to take Ubrelvy? No. You may take Ubrelvy after a migraine episode starts, at any time of day.

Tell your doctor about your health history before starting treatment with Ubrelvy. Your doctor may not recommend this medication if you have certain factors affecting your health or specific medical conditions. These situations are considered drug-condition interactions.

These factors and conditions include those listed below.

• Severe liver problems. The liver is important for clearing Ubrelvy out of your body. If you have severe liver problems, the drug may not be cleared out of the body like usual. This could increase your risk of side effects. Because of this risk, doctors typically prescribe a lower dose of Ubrelvy for people with severe liver problems. Talk with your doctor if you have liver problems or had any in the past.
• Severe kidney problems. The kidneys play a role in clearing Ubrelvy out of your body. If you have severe kidney problems, the drug may not be cleared out of the body like usual. This could increase your risk of side effects. Because of this risk, doctors may prescribe a lower dose of Ubrelvy for people with severe kidney problems. Further, doctors likely will not prescribe the drug at all for people with end stage kidney disease. Talk with your doctor if you have kidney problems. They can check your kidney function to determine whether it’s safe for you to take Ubrelvy.
• Allergic reaction. Your doctor will likely not prescribe Ubrelvy if you’ve had an allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients. To find out about other treatment options, talk with your doctor.
• Pregnancy. If you’d like additional information about taking Ubrelvy while pregnant, view the “Ubrelvy: Taking while pregnant” section above.
• Breastfeeding. If you’d like additional information about taking Ubrelvy while breastfeeding, view the “Ubrelvy: Taking while breastfeeding” section above.

Additionally, Ubrelvy has a contraindication. (A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to risk of harm.) Ubrelvy should not be taken if you’re currently taking a drug that’s a strong inhibitor (blocker) of an enzyme called CYP3A4. To learn more about this, see the “Ubrelvy: Interactions” section below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

For more information about effects of Ubrelvy that could be harmful, see the “Ubrelvy: Side effects” section above.

There’s no known interaction between Ubrelvy and alcohol.

However, consuming alcohol can trigger migraine episodes in some people. Keep in mind that Ubrelvy is used to treat these episodes. If you’ve noticed that alcohol intake led to a migraine episode in the past, you may want to avoid or limit alcohol consumption.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about drinking alcohol with your condition.

Ubrelvy may interact with other medications, certain supplements, and certain foods.

Different interactions can cause different effects. Some interactions can interfere with a drug’s effectiveness. Others can increase a drug’s side effects or cause them to be severe.

Before you start Ubrelvy, be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, herbs, vitamins, or supplements you take. They can check for any possible interactions between these products and Ubrelvy.

If any of the interactions listed below might pertain to you, talk with your doctor. They can tell you what you need to do to avoid the interaction.

• Ubrelvy and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers. The manufacturer of Ubrelvy advises that these drugs should not be taken together. (CYP3A4 is an enzyme that breaks down Ubrelvy so it can be cleared from your body. Certain drugs affect this enzyme either strongly, moderately, or weakly.) Be sure to discuss this with your doctor any  drugs that have been prescribed for you. Examples of drugs that strongly affect CYP3A4 include:
  • certain antifungals, such as itraconazole and ketoconazole
  • the antibiotics clarithromycin and rifampin (Rifadin)
  • certain seizure drugs, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin
  • a barbiturate containing butalbital (Fioricet)
• Ubrelvy and other medications. Because Ubrelvy may interact with the following drugs, your doctor may recommend you do not take it with these drugs. Alternatively, they may adjust your dose or dosing schedule to help prevent an interaction. Examples include:
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro), an antibiotic
  • cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant
  • fluconazole (Diflucan), an antifungal
  • fluvoxamine (Luvox), an antidepressant
  • certain blood pressure drugs, such as verapamil and carvedilol (Coreg)
  • quinidine, a heart rhythm drug
  • eltrombopag (Promacta), which is used to treat a low platelet count
• Ubrelvy and herbs and supplements. Certain herbs and supplements may interact with Ubrelvy. Examples include:
  • St. John’s wort, which doctors typically recommend avoiding while taking Ubrelvy
  • curcumin, also known as turmeric
• Ubrelvy and foods. Certain medications interact with foods. Examples of foods that may affect Ubrelvy include:
  • grapefruit
  • grapefruit juice

For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Ubrelvy: Precautions” section above.

It’s unknown if Ubrelvy is safe to take while pregnant. There isn’t enough information about using the drug during human pregnancy to know for sure.

In animal studies, harmful effects occurred in fetuses exposed to ubrogepant (the active drug in Ubrelvy). However, animal studies do not always predict what might happen in humans.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about the risks and benefits of taking Ubrelvy while pregnant.

Doctors aren’t sure whether it’s safe to take Ubrelvy during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about your birth control needs with Ubrelvy if you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant. Your doctor can recommend whether you should use birth control with this medication.

Doctors aren’t sure whether it’s safe to take Ubrelvy while breastfeeding.

In animal studies, the drug passed into the breast milk of rats. There isn’t enough information available in humans to know whether Ubrelvy:

• passes into human breast milk 
• affects children who are breastfed

If you’re breastfeeding or have plans to do so, talk with your doctor. They’ll help you consider the benefits and possible risks of taking Ubrelvy while breastfeeding. You and your doctor can decide on a plan that’s best for you and your child.

Here are some common questions about Ubrelvy and brief answers to them. If you’d like to know more about these topics, ask your doctor.

Ubrelvy isn’t approved to prevent migraine episodes. Instead, it’s approved as an acute (short-acting) treatment for migraine episodes. As such, you’ll only take the drug if you need it, once a migraine episode starts. Be sure to take Ubrelvy according to your prescriber’s instructions.

Examples of drugs approved to prevent migraine headaches include:

• topiramate (Topamax)
• galcanezumab (Emgality)

Talk with your doctor to find out if a preventive treatment is right for you.

Yes, it’s generally safe to take pain relievers with Ubrelvy. However, keep in mind that taking pain relievers too often increases the risk of medication-overuse headache (MOH).

With MOH, you may have frequent or daily headaches as a result of taking acute (short-acting) migraine or pain medications too often.

As such, you may want to give Ubrelvy time to work before taking an additional drug. Remember that Ubrelvy may take 2 hours to work after taking a dose. You may also need to repeat the dose at least 2 hours later if you’re still having pain or other migraine symptoms.

If Ubrelvy doesn’t fully stop a migraine episode, your doctor may recommend taking a pain reliever. Examples of pain relievers that should not interact with Ubrelvy include:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen (Aleve)

While these pain relievers are generally safe to take with Ubrelvy, some people shouldn’t take certain pain relievers. It’s best to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking a pain reliever with Ubrelvy.

No. There currently isn’t a cure for migraine. In some cases, the severity and frequency of migraine episodes can increase or decrease over time. 

Several types of effective treatments are available to help prevent or stop migraine symptoms. There are also ways to help prevent migraine episodes, such as avoiding migraine triggers.  

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know more about managing migraine.

For some drugs, taking more than the recommended dosage may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose. Do not use more Ubrelvy than your doctor advises.

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or a local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Here’s some information about Ubrelvy’s expiration date, as well as how to store and dispose of the drug.

Expiration. Your pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on Ubrelvy’s packaging. This date is usually 1 year from the date the medication was dispensed to you. Expiration dates help ensure that a medication is effective during a period of time.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises Trusted Source Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Governmental authority Go to source that you avoid taking expired drugs. If you have an unused medication and it’s past the drug’s expiration date, talk with your pharmacist. They can let you know whether you might still be able to use the medication.

Storage. Many factors determine how long a medication remains good to use. These factors include how and where you store the drug. Store Ubrelvy at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). If needed, the tablets may be temporarily kept at a temperature of 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C), such as when you’re travelling. Avoid storing the drug in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms.

Disposal. It’s important to safely dispose of Ubrelvy if you no longer need to take it and have unused medication. Doing so helps prevent others, including children and pets, from accidentally taking the drug. It also helps avoid causing harm to the environment.

Ask your pharmacist for information about disposing of Ubrelvy. Also, check out this page for several tips on safe medication disposal.

If you have questions about Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor. They can help advise you on whether Ubrelvy could be a good treatment option for you.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Should I continue taking my other medications with Ubrelvy?
• What should I do if the maximum dose of Ubrelvy doesn’t ease my migraine episode?
• My migraine episodes usually cause nausea. If I vomit after taking Ubrelvy, should I take another dose?

Your doctor may also tell you about other treatment options for your condition. You may find this article helpful in learning about alternative drugs. And view our selection of videos on migraine.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades 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.