Skip to main content

What is Ubrelvy used for and how fast does Ubrelvy work?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on June 19, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

What is Ubrelvy used for?

Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is used in adults to treat acute migraines, that are with or without aura.

Ubrelvy is NOT used to prevent migraines.

How fast does Ubrelvy work?

Ubrelvy starts to work after approximately one and a half to two hours, with its maximum effect being between 3 to 8 hours.

In Ubrelvy clinical trials after 2 hours 21.2% of patients taking Ubrelvy 100mg were pain free compared to 11.8% of patients taking placebo. Over the next 3 to 8 hours the percentage of patients that were pain free increased, so that after 8 hours the over 70% Ubrelvy 100mg patients were pain free and over 50% of the placebo patients were also pain free.

The Ubrelvy clinical trial also measured pain relief after 2 hours. In the patients who took Ubrelvy 100mg 61.4% patients had pain relief compared to 49.1% of patients that took the placebo.

In the Ubrelvy clinical trials after 2 hours 37.7% of patients taking Ubrelvy 100mg had an absence of bothersome migraine symptoms (photophobia, phonophobia, or nausea) compared to 27.8% of patients who were taking the placebo.

How does Ubrelvy work?

Ubrelvy is a CGRP receptor antagonist (gepants) which is from a group of medicines called CGRP inhibitors. How Ubrelvy works is complicated but put simply, CGRP is a protein in the nerve endings that is involved in pain and migraines. Ubrelvy blocks the CGRP protein from attaching to the nerve endings and so stops the pain and migraine symptoms.

References

Medicine information Ubrelvy: www.drugs.com/ubrelvy.html

Ubrogepant for the Treatment of Migraine: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1813049

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups