Key takeaways

  • Ubrelvy can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include nausea and sleepiness.
  • Side effects of Ubrelvy may go away after about 24 to 36 hours, or less. Ubrelvy isn’t known to cause long-term side effects.

Ubrelvy is used as needed to treat migraine episodes in adults. The active ingredient in Ubrelvy is ubrogepant. Ubrelvy belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, also known as gepants.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Ubrelvy can cause.

Ubrelvy can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

Ubrelvy’s more commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Ubrelvy. These include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing, bothersome, or severe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop using Ubrelvy unless your doctor recommends it.

Ubrelvy may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Possible serious side effects of Ubrelvy include:

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Ubrelvy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Ubrelvy can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Ubrelvy.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Ubrelvy, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Ubrelvy is not known to cause long-term side effects.

If you experience side effects after taking a Ubrelvy dose, they may go away within about 24 hours to 36 hours or less. This is how long Ubrelvy’s effects generally last.

Taking Ubrelvy long term also isn’t known to cause specific side effects other than those discussed in this article, such as nausea or sleepiness. Side effects may occur each time you take a dose since your body doesn’t tend to get used to a medication when it’s only taken as needed, like Ubrelvy.

If you think you might be experiencing side effects that last a long time, talk with your doctor.

While taking Ubrelvy, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

Sleepiness

Sleepiness is a common side effect of Ubrelvy. You may be more likely to have this side effect if you take higher doses of the drug.

What might help

Until you know whether Ubrelvy makes you sleepy, you shouldn’t perform tasks that require you to be alert. This includes driving.

Your body may not get used to this side effect because you don’t take the drug every day. So, if you feel sleepy after taking your first few doses of Ubrelvy, you’re likely to continue feeling sleepy every time you take it.

Talk with your doctor about any activities you might need to avoid while taking Ubrelvy.

Dry mouth

You might experience dry mouth while taking Ubrelvy. This happens when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva.

Dry mouth resulting from Ubrelvy use will likely be temporary. But if dry mouth doesn’t go away and is left untreated, it can lead to more serious conditions. These include tooth decay, mouth sores, and oral thrush (a yeast infection inside your mouth).

What might help

The following dry mouth home remedies may help relieve symptoms:

  • Stay hydrated by drinking water.
  • Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candies.
  • Limit the amount of caffeine and sugar you consume.
  • Avoid smoking (if you smoke).
  • Breathe through your nose more often than your mouth.

If you experience bothersome dry mouth while taking Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor. They may recommend saliva substitutes or suggest other ways to help relieve dry mouth symptoms. Or they might switch you to a different migraine treatment that doesn’t have this side effect.

Nausea

Nausea is the most common side effect of Ubrelvy. You may also experience nausea as a symptom of migraine (the condition Ubrelvy is used to treat).

What might help

If you feel nauseated after taking Ubrelvy, try taking your next dose with food. This could help relieve your nausea by settling your stomach.

Ginger and peppermint are a few natural remedies you can try to relieve your nausea.

You can also try over-the-counter (OTC) medications. A few examples include:

Before taking any medications with Ubrelvy, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

If your nausea becomes severe, talk with your doctor. They may prescribe medications to help treat this side effect. Zofran (ondansetron) is an example of a prescription drug that helps quickly relieve nausea.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Ubrelvy’s side effects.

Can Ubrelvy cause rebound headaches?

Maybe, although rebound headaches weren’t reported as a side effect in studies of Ubrelvy.

Rebound headaches are a common side effect of other migraine drugs when they’re used too often. This can cause migraine symptoms to happen more often than usual, which can lead to taking more medication. As you take more medication, migraine symptoms can continue to worsen after the drug leaves your system.

The only way to break a cycle of rebound headaches is to temporarily stop taking the migraine medication.

Tell your doctor if you start having headaches more often than usual after starting Ubrelvy. If your doctor thinks you might be having rebound headaches, they’ll likely have you stop taking Ubrelvy for a while. But make sure you talk with your doctor before you stop taking the drug.

Is weight gain or weight loss a side effect of Ubrelvy?

No, weight changes don’t appear to be side effects of Ubrelvy. Weight gain and weight loss weren’t reported in studies of this drug.

Weight changes aren’t a common side effect of any drugs used to treat migraine. But studies have shown that weight gain and weight loss may be side effects of drugs used to help prevent migraine. Examples include Topamax (topiramate), which causes weight loss, and propranolol, which causes weight gain.

If you’re concerned about weight changes while taking Ubrelvy, talk with your doctor. They can recommend healthy ways to manage your weight.

Are Ubrelvy’s side effects similar to those of other migraine medications?

Yes, Ubrelvy’s side effects are similar to those of some other migraine medications. But other migraine drugs can have very different side effects as well.

Common side effects among Ubrelvy and other migraine drugs include:

Possible side effects of other migraine drugs that Ubrelvy is not known to cause may include:

For more information about how Ubrelvy’s side effects compare with those of other migraine medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Before taking Ubrelvy, discuss your health history with your doctor. Ubrelvy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.