Key takeaways:
Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is a prescription medication that treats sudden migraine attacks in adults.
Ubrelvy is well-tolerated by most people. But nausea, fatigue, and dry mouth are some of the most common Ubrelvy side effects.
Rarely, Ubrelvy can cause allergic reactions. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away if you experience trouble breathing or swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue.
Save on related medications
Frequent migraines can have a profound impact on quality of life and affect the bulk of your day-to-day priorities — including your relationships, career, and mental health. As an added factor, the timing of migraine episodes can feel unpredictable and cause discomfort in inconvenient moments. It makes sense that migraines are the second-leading cause of disability worldwide.
Thankfully, many migraine treatments are available. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists are a newer class of medications used for migraine treatment. Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is one CGRP receptor antagonist used to treat sudden migraine attacks, with or without aura (visual, sensory, or speech changes), in adults.
Your healthcare professional may recommend taking Ubrelvy 50 mg or 100 mg oral tablets as needed for migraine symptoms. Ubrelvy is well tolerated for most people, but as with any medication, side effects are possible.
Ubrelvy side effects at a glance
Common or mild Ubrelvy side effects include:
Nasuea
Fatigue
Sleepiness
Dry mouth
Rare but serious risks with Ubrelvy include:
New or worsening high blood pressure
New or worsening Raynaud’s phenomenon (blood vessel spasms in the fingers and toes that lead to pain and skin color changes)
Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
Read on to learn more about four Ubrelvy side effects and what to do if you experience them.
Keep in mind: Many of Ubrelvy’s reported side effects overlap with the traditional symptoms of a migraine. If you feel your migraines aren’t adequately managed with your current treatment plan, reach out to your healthcare professional. They may want to adjust your migraine medication.
1. Nausea
Nausea was the most frequent side effect in Ubrelvy’s clinical trials. Up to 4% of people experienced it at some point, and it’s more likely with higher doses. It was also the most common side effect that led people to stop taking the medication, although this didn’t happen often overall.
Some minor dietary changes may help prevent nausea. You can try taking the medication with food if your migraine symptoms will allow it. Avoiding certain foods that can worsen nausea, such as spicy, fried, or acidic items, is also a good idea.
If you’re feeling nauseated, try limiting yourself to bland, starchy foods, such as bananas, rice, applesauce, or toast. Foods like these are part of the BRAT diet, a temporary diet that can help manage nausea. Try to also eat smaller, more frequent meals and stay hydrated by drinking water. In some cases, your healthcare professional may suggest an over-the-counter medication such as an antacid or a prescription medication like Zofran (ondansetron).
2. Fatigue and sleepiness
Fatigue and sleepiness are possible Ubrelvy side effects. About 2% to 3% of people experience these symptoms after taking a dose — most often with Ubrelvy 100 mg.
While these side effects are usually mild, that’s not the case for everyone. It’s important to understand how your body handles Ubrelvy before participating in activities that require mental alertness, such as driving a car. Once you know what to expect from Ubrelvy, see if you feel alert enough for these activities. This is especially important when you first start taking Ubrelvy.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists: Learn how Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) stacks up to other CGRP antagonists for migraine management.
Ubrelvy FAQs: Pharmacists describe how long Ubrelvy takes to work, what can affect its onset time, and more.
Outdated migraine medications: No, Ubrelvy isn’t outdated. But other migraine medications you’re taking might be.
If you continually feel more tired than normal after taking Ubrelvy, talk with your healthcare professional. They may want to lower your dose or switch you to a different medication. They can also help you figure out if your migraines themselves are causing fatigue or sleepiness (or vice versa).
3. Dry mouth
Ubrelvy may cause dry mouth in a small percentage of people who take it. This can make it hard to chew or swallow. Dry mouth can also make it difficult to enjoy food or speak comfortably.
Small lifestyle adjustments, such as drinking more fluids, can help counteract dry mouth. Other options include sucking on ice chips or enjoying sugar-free gum.
Long-lasting dry mouth isn’t common with Ubrelvy. It usually goes away on its own after a dose wears off. So if you’re experiencing dry mouth that’s bothersome or isn’t going away, talk to your healthcare professional. They can help you figure out next steps regarding your treatment plan.
4. Allergic reactions
As with all medications, allergic reactions can happen after you take Ubrelvy. They can be mild or serious. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include skin rashes, hives, or flushing. Symptoms of a more serious allergic reaction can include swelling in your throat or mouth, a sudden cough, or trouble breathing.
In Ubrelvy’s initial studies, most reactions happened within hours of taking the medication. But some reactions occurred days after taking it.
If you have any symptoms of a mild allergic reaction, you should stop taking Ubrelvy and speak to your healthcare professional. They can help get the situation under control. They may prescribe a different medication to manage your migraines going forward. But if you’re experiencing trouble breathing or swelling of the face, mouth, or throat, skip this step and call 911 or seek emergency medical help right away. Serious reactions are rare.
Are Ubrelvy’s side effects the same as other CGRP antagonists?
Ubrelvy is generally thought to have somewhat similar side effects to other CGRP antagonists. Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) is one example, but there’s limited head-to-head data between the two.
Nurtec ODT has a similar side effect profile to Ubrelvy, with nausea being the most common side effect of Nurtec ODT. Nurtec ODT has also been linked to allergic reactions.
What about CGRP monoclonal antibodies?
Other CGRP drugs are available for migraine prevention. Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm), Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), and Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) are given as under-the-skin injections to prevent migraines in adults. Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr) is used in a similar way, but it’s an intravenous infusion.
These CGRP monoclonal antibodies have different side effects than Ubrelvy and other oral CGRP antagonists. For example, medications like Ajovy, Aimovig, and Emgality can cause pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Aimovig is also associated with constipation and muscle cramps or spasms. Vyepti has been linked to a stuffy nose and scratchy throat.
Remember: Ubrelvy is used for the acute treatment of migraines. It’s not approved for the prevention of migraines.
Frequently asked questions
Ubrelvy isn’t right for everyone. You shouldn’t use it if you take other medications that block its breakdown, such as ketoconazole or clarithromycin. This combination could cause new or worsening side effects. Ubrelvy also doesn’t mix well with medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or rifampin (Rifadin), since these can make it less effective for migraine relief.
Ubrelvy is also off the table if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients. People with severe liver or kidney problems should avoid Ubrelvy and talk with their prescriber about safer migraine options. And if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s important to ask your prescriber whether Ubrelvy is a safe choice.
Your liver processes Ubrelvy after you take it, so the medication can build up in your body if your liver isn’t working well. For people with severe liver problems, a lower dose — or a different treatment — may be recommended. Those with mild or moderate liver issues can often take Ubrelvy safely, but their prescriber may want to keep a closer eye on them. Make sure to mention any history of liver problems to your prescriber before starting Ubrelvy.
Weight loss isn’t a known effect of Ubrelvy. Common side effects include nausea and sleepiness, but changes in weight haven’t been reported in clinical studies. If you notice unexpected weight changes after starting Ubrelvy, check in with your prescriber to rule out other causes.
Ubrelvy isn’t right for everyone. You shouldn’t use it if you take other medications that block its breakdown, such as ketoconazole or clarithromycin. This combination could cause new or worsening side effects. Ubrelvy also doesn’t mix well with medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or rifampin (Rifadin), since these can make it less effective for migraine relief.
Ubrelvy is also off the table if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients. People with severe liver or kidney problems should avoid Ubrelvy and talk with their prescriber about safer migraine options. And if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s important to ask your prescriber whether Ubrelvy is a safe choice.
Your liver processes Ubrelvy after you take it, so the medication can build up in your body if your liver isn’t working well. For people with severe liver problems, a lower dose — or a different treatment — may be recommended. Those with mild or moderate liver issues can often take Ubrelvy safely, but their prescriber may want to keep a closer eye on them. Make sure to mention any history of liver problems to your prescriber before starting Ubrelvy.
Weight loss isn’t a known effect of Ubrelvy. Common side effects include nausea and sleepiness, but changes in weight haven’t been reported in clinical studies. If you notice unexpected weight changes after starting Ubrelvy, check in with your prescriber to rule out other causes.
The bottom line
Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is a prescription medication that treats sudden migraine attacks in adults. Some of the most common Ubrelvy side effects include nausea, fatigue, and dry mouth. Ubrelvy can also cause allergic reactions, which may include swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about Ubrelvy side effects.
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References
Ailani, J., et al. (2021). The American Headache Society consensus statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache.
Allergan. (2025). Ubrelvy- ubrogepant tablet [package insert].
American Migraine Foundation. (n.d.) American Migraine Foundation: Migraine impacts us all.
Dodick, D. W., et al. (2019). Ubrogepant for the treatment of migraine. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Martelletti, P., et al. (2019). Advances in orally administered pharmacotherapy for the treatment of migraine. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy.
Pradeep, R., et al. (2020). Migraine disability, quality of life, and its predictors. Annals of Neurosciences.
