Ubrogepant
CGRP antagonists (gepants and anti-CGRP antibodies)
CGRP antagonists (gepants and anti-CGRP antibodies)
An oral CGRP receptor blocker for migraine attacks. It does not prevent migraine or reduce the number of headaches.
Quick facts
- Group
- CGRP antagonists (gepants and anti-CGRP antibodies)
- Target
- CGRP receptor (calcitonin receptor-like receptor, CALCRL, with RAMP1)
- Used for
- Acute treatment of migraine attacks
- Key effects
- Nausea · Drowsiness · Dry mouth
- Monitor
- Headache diary · Blood pressure
- ATC
- N02CD04
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
The figure shows telcagepant, an earlier gepant that was never marketed, bound to the extracellular domains of the human CGRP receptor (CLR with RAMP1), where small-molecule gepants block the receptor; there is no structure with this drug.
Ubrogepant is a small-molecule antagonist of the CGRP receptor (a gepant). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), released by trigeminal nerves during migraine, dilates meningeal vessels and drives neurogenic inflammation. Gepants bind at the junction of the two receptor subunits (CLR and RAMP1) and stop CGRP from activating it. Unlike triptans, they do not constrict blood vessels.
- Ubrogepant binds the CGRP receptor
- Trigeminal CGRP can no longer act
- Less vasodilation and neurogenic inflammation
- The attack eases
Indications
- Acute treatment of migraine attacks in adults Migraine →
Adverse effects
Common
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to ubrogepant or any component of the product
Key interactions
- St John's wort and curcumin
- May interact with ubrogepant; they are reviewed before starting
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
- A second tablet within 24 hours is avoided
- Some other medicines
- The treating team may advise against a second tablet within 24 hours
What is monitored
- Headache diary: attacks treated per month
- Blood pressure
- Headaches that become more frequent
Administration and safety
- Oral tablet at the first sign of migraine; a second dose may be allowed after some hours if prescribed
- The maximum number of tablets per day and of attacks treated per month is set by the treating team
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
There is little information in pregnancy; it is a decision for the treating team.
Nursing care
- Ask about hypertension, Raynaud phenomenon, kidney and liver disease
- Review supplements, including St John's wort and curcumin
- Teach to report headaches that do not improve or become more frequent
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Oral tablet taken at the first sign of an attack
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Does ubrogepant prevent migraine?
No; it only treats attacks.
Which supplements may interact with ubrogepant?
St John's wort and curcumin.
What is the drug class of ubrogepant?
Gepants: small-molecule CGRP receptor antagonists.
Connections
← Back to the class: CGRP antagonists (gepants and anti-CGRP antibodies)
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Ubrogepant: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); RCSB PDB - 3N7R: Crystal structure of the ectodomain complex of the CGRP receptor, a Class-B GPCR, reveals the site of drug antagonism (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.