As with other drugs, Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) can cause side effects, such as nausea and fatigue. Ubrelvy is not known to cause long-term side effects.
Ubrelvy is a brand-name tablet prescribed for acute (immediate and short term) migraine treatment. You’ll take it as needed when you experience migraine symptoms, up to 8 times per month.
If you have problems with side effects from Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options.
For more information about Ubrelvy, including details about its uses, see this Ubrelvy overview article.
Ubrelvy can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Ubrelvy in clinical trials:
For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
Mild side effects can occur with Ubrelvy use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Ubrelvy’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Ubrelvy include:
- sleepiness
- fatigue
- nausea
- dry mouth
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Ubrelvy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
Allergic reaction is a possible serious side effect of Ubrelvy. Allergic reaction wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but it has been reported since Ubrelvy became available for use.
There aren’t any other known serious side effects caused by this drug. See the “Side effect specifics” section for details about allergic reaction.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Ubrelvy, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Ubrelvy may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
Does Ubrelvy cause long-term side effects?
No, long-term side effects have not been reported with Ubrelvy. Ubrelvy’s effects last for about 24 to 36 hours, so any side effects should generally go away within this time.
It’s possible to have side effects every time you take Ubrelvy since the body doesn’t tend to get used to medication when it’s taken only as needed.
If you are experiencing side effects long term or you have more questions, be sure to talk with your doctor.
Are rebound headaches a side effect of Ubrelvy?
It’s not likely.
Rebound headaches (also known as medication overuse headaches) can occur from using some migraine medications frequently. Other migraine medications, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), can cause rebound headaches. But no one taking Ubrelvy in clinical trials reported rebound headaches as a side effect.
If you have questions about rebound headaches and your migraine treatment plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Should I expect weight gain or weight loss while taking Ubrelvy?
No, neither weight gain nor weight loss have been reported as side effects of Ubrelvy. No one taking the medication in clinical trials reported weight loss or weight gain as a side effect.
Other drugs prescribed for treating migraine have been
- amitriptyline
- divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote ER)
- propranolol (Inderal LA and InnoPran XL)
If you have questions about weight changes related to your migraine treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Ubrelvy cause vomiting?
It’s not likely. No one taking Ubrelvy in clinical trials reported vomiting as a side effect. Mild nausea is a possible side effect of Ubrelvy, though. See the “Side effect specifics” section for more information.
If you have questions about vomiting while taking Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Ubrelvy may cause.
Sleepiness
It’s possible to experience sleepiness as a side effect from taking Ubrelvy. This was one of the more common side effects reported by people taking the drug in clinical trials.
The 50-milligram (mg) dose of Ubrelvy may be slightly less likely to cause sleepiness than the 100-mg dose.
For most people who experience sleepiness from taking Ubrelvy, this side effect isn’t serious. Also, keep in mind that a migraine episode can cause you to feel sleepy.
What you can do
Avoid driving or operating machinery after taking a dose of Ubrelvy until you know how the medication will affect you. Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend avoiding other activities until you know if the drug causes sleepiness for you. They can also recommend ways to treat sleepiness or help your energy levels.
If you have sleepiness that’s severe or bothers you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend other treatments for your migraines.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth can be a side effect of Ubrelvy. This was rarely reported by people taking the medication in clinical trials.
Dry mouth may be slightly more likely to occur if you’re taking the 100-mg dose of Ubrelvy, compared with the 50-mg dose.
What you can do
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have dry mouth while taking Ubrelvy. They can recommend ways to treat this side effect. For example, sipping water or chewing sugar-free gum may help prevent or relieve dry mouth. You can also try an over-the-counter saliva substitute.
Nausea
Nausea was the most common side effect reported by people taking Ubrelvy in clinical trials. Nausea is also a possible symptom of migraine episodes.
You may be slightly more likely to have nausea from taking the 100-mg dose of Ubrelvy than the 50-mg dose.
What you can do
If you experience nausea while taking Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to help you manage this side effect. For example, they may have you try taking the medication with food.
If you have nausea that’s severe or bothers you, your doctor may recommend stopping Ubrelvy and trying a different migraine drug.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Ubrelvy can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Allergic reaction wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but it has been reported since Ubrelvy became available for use.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Ubrelvy. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Ubrelvy. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:
- kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease
- liver problems or liver disease
- previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- alcohol consumption
- whether you take medications that affect a certain enzyme called CYP3A4 (for examples, refer to this Ubrelvy interactions article)
- pregnancy or breastfeeding (refer to this Ubrelvy and reproductive health article for more information)
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.