Prescription medicines often come with side effects, ranging from mild to serious. Here are some ways you can avoid or manage side effects of the migraine drug ubrogepant (Ubrelvy).
Common and Less Common Side Effects of Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
Drowsiness and nausea are the most common side effects. Dry mouth is a less common side effect.
You could have other reactions to ubrogepant. Call your doctor if you feel any unusual changes while taking the drug. If you have an allergic reaction to ubrogepant, such as swelling in your face, mouth, tongue, or throat or trouble breathing, call 911 right away.
Long-Term Safety of Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
In a study of around 800 people, researchers followed them for up to a year to track any side effects and to measure safety. Some subjects took ubrogepant up to eight times a month. Most people took it at least twice a month for no less than 6 months.
A small percentage, 2.5%, stopped taking ubrogepant because of a side effect. Nausea was the most common harmful reaction. Since it was approved, some people taking ubrogepant have also reported allergic reactions.
Lowering Your Chance of Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) Side Effects
You can take certain steps to minimize or avoid problems while taking this medication.
Talk to your pharmacist. They are trained to know how drugs work, their possible side effects, and whether they might interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Show them a list of medicines and supplements you take, so they can review it for possible drug interactions. If you don’t understand something, ask your pharmacist to explain. They also could contact your doctor about changing your dose or trying a different drug.
Revisit your list of medications. Make an appointment with your doctor one or twice a year to review all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter. Talk about any potential side effects or drug interactions and if you can stop taking any of them.
Limit grapefruit juice. Enzymes break down medicine in your digestive system, but grapefruit juice can get in the way of that process. The drug may then stay in your system for too long and build up to unsafe levels. Or it may move through too quickly and not work well. If you drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, don’t take a second dose of ubrogepant within 24 hours of the first.
Try it with food. It’s best to take some prescription drugs with food to help them absorb into your system or stop them from bothering your stomach. But others work better on an empty stomach. It’s OK to take ubrogepant either with or without food. But if it’s making you nauseated, taking it with a little food could help.
Take it at bedtime. To ward off daytime drowsiness, ask your pharmacist if it’s OK to take ubrogepant before you turn in for the night.
Be wary of supplements. Let your doctor know if you take herbal supplements, especially St. John’s wort or curcumin. Taking them with ubrogepant could cause a drug interaction. Supplements are less likely to be included in drug interaction databases.
Cut back on alcohol. Alcohol can make you more sleepy, which is already a side effect of ubrogepant.
Avoid certain drug combos. You shouldn’t take ubrogepant if you also take certain strong CYP3A4 inhibitors like clarithromycin, itraconazole, or ketoconazole. If you’re unsure whether you take these drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What to Do if You’re Having a Side Effect From Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
If the unwanted reaction to ubrogepant bothers you, call your doctor. An allergic reaction can be an emergency. Mild side effects will likely ease up over time, or your doctor may adjust your dose.
