Is Ubrelvy a narcotic used for migraine?

• No, Ubrelvy (generic name: ubrogepant) is not a narcotic (opioid) and is not a controlled substance. It does not cause addiction.
• Ubrelvy, from Allergan, is classified as an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist (also called a "gepant"). It comes as an oral tablet.
• Ubrelvy is approved for the treatment of acute migraine attacks once they start. Ubrelvy is not used to prevent migraine headaches.
• Ubrelvy is used in adults who experience an acute migraine with or without an aura. It is not approved for use in children.

A migraine aura can lead to sensory changes such as visions of light, blurred vision, an odor, a sensation or "feeling", trouble speaking, numbness or weakness. An aura can let a patient know that a migraine headache may be starting.

Ubrelvy works differently than a narcotic. It directly blocks the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) protein that is thought to play a role in migraine attacks by causing pain, dilation of blood vessels and inflammation. It blocks the CGRP protein from attaching to sensory nerve endings.

Does Ubrelvy help with pain?

• Ubrelvy does help to relieve pain that occurs with migraine headaches.
• In four clinical studies, both the 50 mg and 100 mg dose strengths demonstrated significantly greater rates of freedom from pain and the most bothersome migraine-associated symptom at two hours, compared with the group using a placebo (an inactive treatment).
• Migraine-associated symptoms included light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, or nausea.

Ubrelvy comes as an oral tablet. The recommended dose of Ubrelvy is 50 mg or 100 mg taken orally with or without food. Your doctor will determine your dose. If needed, a second dose may be taken at least 2 hours after the first dose.

Do not take more than 200 mg in a 24-hour period. It is not known if it is safe to treat more than 8 migraines in a 30-day period with Ubrelvy.

You may need a dose adjustment if you have liver or kidney disease.

The most common adverse reactions with Ubrelvy (at least 2% and greater than placebo) were nausea and drowsiness (somnolence).

Ubrelvy has important drug interactions. Tell your doctor or other health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Let them know if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. They can run a drug interaction screen for you.

Learn More: Ubrelvy Drug Interactions

Related questions

• How do Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec compare for migraines?
• What are the new drugs for the treatment of migraines?
• Ubrelvy vs Imitrex (sumatriptan): How do they compare?

Bottom Line

• Ubrelvy tablet is not classified as a narcotic (opioid) and is not a controlled substance.
• It is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist that helps to relieve pain and inflammation associated with migraine headaches once they start. It can be used in migraine headaches with or without auras.
• Ubrelvy is not used for the prevention of migraine headaches.

This is not all the information you need to know about Ubrelvy for safe and effective use. Review the full Ubrelvy information here, and discuss this information with your doctor or other health care provider.