Rimegepant
Generic name: rimegepant [ ri-ME-je-pant ]
Brand name: Nurtec ODT
Drug class: CGRP inhibitors
What is rimegepant?
Rimegepant is a prescription medicine used by adults to treat migraines (with or without aura) when they occur and also to prevent episodic migraines. Rimegepant works to reduce migraine symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and sound sensitivity, by blocking CGRP receptors. This medicine may reduce the number of monthly migraine days when taken to prevent episodic migraines.
Rimegepant is an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) that dissolves in the mouth without the need to take it with a glass of water. Because the tablet dissolves in the mouth it is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, with the highest blood concentrations reached after one and a half hours.
Warnings
It is not known if it is safe to take rimegepant ODT for more than 15 migraine headaches in 30 days.
Rimegepant ODT can be taken 1 time each day as needed. You should not take more than 1 tablet in 24 hours.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
If you take too much rimegepant ODT, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use rimegepant if you are allergic to it.
To make sure rimegepant is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
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liver disease; or
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kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).
It is not known whether rimegepant will harm an unborn baby. However, having migraine headaches may cause complications during pregnancy such as dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby. The benefit of treating migraines may outweigh any risks to the baby.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Rimegepant is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take rimegepant?
Use rimegepant ODT exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if you have more than 15 headaches in one month (30 days).
Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine.
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Use dry hands when opening the blister pack.
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Peel back the foil covering of one blister and gently remove the orally disintegrating tablet (ODT). Do not push the ODT through the foil.
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As soon as the blister is opened, remove the ODT and place on the tongue; alternatively, the ODT may be placed under the tongue.
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The ODT will disintegrate in saliva so that it can be swallowed without additional liquid.
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Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves.
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Take the ODT immediately after opening the blister pack. Do not store the ODT outside the blister pack for future use.
Store at cool room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Migraine:
75 mg orally
Maximum dose: 75 mg in a 24-hour period
Comments:
-This drug is not for the preventive treatment of migraine.
-The safety of treating more than 15 migraines in a 30-day period is unknown.
Use: For the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura.
Place on tongue (or under tongue) and allow to disintegrate in saliva and swallow; additional liquid is not necessary. Do not take more than 1 dose in 24-hours.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since rimegepant is used when needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after using this medicine.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What to avoid
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Rimegepant side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to rimegepant: hives, rash; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
An allergic reaction can be severe, and may occur days after you have taken this medicine.
Common rimegepant side effects may include nausea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect rimegepant?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
If you use any of the following medicines, avoid taking rimegepant within 48 hours after you last took the other medicine:
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fluconazole; or
This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with rimegepant. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Popular FAQ
Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec ODT are all medicines used by adults for migraines. They are all from the same group of medicines often called gepants but their full name is calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist. Continue reading
Because it dissolves in the mouth it is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly and can start working within an hour, with some people being able to get back to their normal activities after this time. When looking at the percentage of patients from the treatment group, including all age groups, races, men and women, who were pain free after 2 hours: The Nurtec group had 21.2% patients pain free. Continue reading
Weight gain with Nurtec ODT has not been reported as a side effect in studies looking at its use for either migraine treatment or prevention. In general, Nurtec ODT is well tolerated, with less than 3% of patients reporting a side effect during use. Continue reading
Nurtec ODT 75 mg tablet can be taken once per day when used to treat migraine pain. It is placed on or under your tongue to dissolve. It is not known if it is safe to take more than 18 doses of Nurtec ODT in a 30-day period. Take Nurtec ODT exactly how your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Continue reading
https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=19433Nurtec ODT works by blocking activation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to help treat and prevent migraine headaches. CGRP is a protein that attaches to receptors found in the brain and triggers a migraine attack. Levels of CGRP increase during a migraine and play a role in pain transmission. Continue reading
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References
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Further information
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use rimegepant only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
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