Atogepant and Constipation: What Users Say

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2022

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "Didn’t do anything but make me constipated, fatigued, and depressed. Took it for migraine aura treatment (I get frequent visual auras). Not sure why a CGRP inhibitor would help that subtype of migraine but alas. I was completely constipated for days - literally couldn’t go despite Miralax, prunes, etc. I was extremely fatigued and also dealt with depressive symptoms that aren’t typical for me. Not a pleasant experience. In my opinion the long term safety profile of these drugs should be studied further before they are prescribed en masse. Clearly blocking CGRP has many effects on the body besides just migraine (which didn’t even work for me)."

• Tiz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2022

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Qulipta for migraines for about 4.5 months. (7-year history with constant migraines.) My doc gave me 60 mg, but I was incredibly tired and falling asleep. So much so, it was like I was in my 1st trimester of pregnancy again. (Not pregnant now.) I decided to break it in half and only take 30 mg daily. The 1st week or two, I still had a lot of headaches, but sumatriptan helped. Then the migraines pretty much stopped! I was constipated, but that pretty much has evened out. However, and this is a big one… in the last month to month and a half, I have lost half my hair! (I’m a 43-year-old female with long fine hair as it is, and losing half is extremely upsetting to say the least.) Now, I have also been on Bupropion for 14 months, and there is a 1% chance of losing hair on that. Also, maybe perimenopause could be kicking in… but to lose that much hair that quickly???! I stopped Qulipta and Bupropion both cold turkey last week to see if my hair will stop falling out or not."

• Mig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 16, 2023

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "Started taking Qulipta (60 mg) close to a year ago. Initially, the only side effect symptom was constipation, but no migraines. After four to five months, a few breakthrough migraines. Then stomach pain shooting to back and shoulder, insomnia, anger/agitation, ringing in ears, all accelerating to unbearable levels. Stopped taking a few days ago, and my nerve pain has calmed somewhat, but stomach pain continues along with persistently loud ringing in ears. I was going to break it in half to wean off, but I don’t think my stomach can bear it. It’s ironic in that my migraines usually begin with stomach pain and that the one and only medication that helped is now causing stomach pain along with other symptoms. Usually, adverse reactions to medication start at the beginning of use for me, not long term, so it took a while to realize it was the Qulipta."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2024

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "I see so many comments about this not working. Here’s my take as someone with chronic daily complex migraines with aura (who’s tried most other medications). 1. Try it for 1 month straight at 60mg. Take it at the same time of day. 2. Severe nausea at first (2 weeks). It will lessen. 3. Bad constipation. You need to drink at least 1L of liquids per day, take 100mg of a stool softener and eat fiber. If you don’t, bowel movements will be hard to pass. 4. It will begin to reduce your migraines slowly after week 3. I still get them daily, but both the aura and pain are less."

• Hea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2025

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "I am on the Botox and Aimovig injections (for a few years) with Qulipta recently started. The Botox and Aimovig lessened daily migraines, but I started having hemiplegic migraines, which mimic stroke symptoms. The Qulipta seemed like a wonder drug for the first few months, minus the constipation, which is a good thing for me. However, within the last two months, I have started having right shoulder and collarbone pain, excruciating stomach pain, and back pain. The pain even went down my right leg in the nerves and the muscles. Back pain is worse than before I had back surgery years ago for a broken back. The doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with any of these problems. So after reading most of these reviews, I’m beginning to wonder if this is a symptom of this Qulipta? I do have the agitation/anger, ringing in the ears, and exhaustion as well. Disappointed."

• QHC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2023

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Qulipta for 17 days so far, and I haven't had a migraine yet! I suffer from chronic migraines - I get about 14-20 migraines a month. I have tried many different preventative drugs, and I have never been able to tolerate the side effects. So far, I have mild constipation, itching, mild hives, and my feet and hands are swollen. I can probably handle these, but it seems as if the fatigue that comes with this drug is getting worse. I am hoping this will subside, because I truly enjoy not having a migraine."

• Mig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2022

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I’ve been on Qulipta for 6 months now. It has worked better than anything else I’ve tried. No mood alteration, which has been my biggest problem with others. I noticed my BP went up as well, but it was always too low anyway. It may have increased my trouble with constipation, but it’s hard to say. My biggest complaint is weight gain. Almost 10 lbs despite almost daily exercise and a very clean diet. I’m not sure what is going on since I’ve read so many with weight loss. Dr. won’t address the concern since I’m not obese."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2023

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Qulipta 30 mg for 30 days with zero relief. It has also given me severe constipation. My neuro increased the dose to 40 mg, and I completely stopped using the bathroom for 5 days. I suspended the medication and had a bowel movement in 24 hrs. My neuro wants me to go back down to the 30 mg dose, but after taking it for 30 days with zero relief, I am not sure this is working for me. I tried Nurtec, and it seemed to work better with zero side effects."

• LIF...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2023

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "Daily horrible migraines. I was on Gabapentin for years, which stripped my body of B6. I had all but one of the B6 deficiency symptoms. I finally got to a neurologist and asked to be put on something else. He gave me samples of Qulipta, and within a week, the daily migraines were GONE, with an occasional “breakthrough” one. 60 mg per day works for me, the main side effect can be constipation, which is easy to counter if you take minerals, especially magnesium. Too bad it is outrageously priced, and insurance won’t cover it."

• Cin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2024

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "A miracle medication. Suffering from incapacitating migraines since my 30s. Around 4 a week and non-responding to treatment well. I’ve been taking it for 4 months now, and just 3 mild migraines when tired or stressed out. Constipation for the first two months, but now normal. Very happy!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2023

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I have New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH). I’ve been on Qulipta for 2.5 months, and at first, it was great! Went 10 days without a headache. Then they began to creep back in. Month two - I had two migraines, which I haven’t had in about 10 years. I went off for a couple of days. Migraines went away. Then took it again, first two days I had headaches and then another migraine. I also can’t take it at night because it gives me insomnia. When I take it in the morning, I sometimes have a histamine reaction like I have a bad cold for several hours, and my eyes feel swollen, and I get constipation and nausea. I was hopeful at first, but I think it’s a no for me."

• Wes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2022

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I was getting 15-20 migraines/month. Migraines were not ever bad enough to put me in bed but were more like a strong, lingering headache that could go for days if not treated. I tried other meds first, including Botox, which I still use. Qulipta (60 mg pill 1x/day in PM) has been amazing though and the best by far. It took around 1.5 months to start working, but now I am only getting a few migraines every month and have been able to treat them with OTC meds instead of a triptan rescue med, which I did not like due to side effects. No side effects from Qulipta other than constipation, but it is really manageable... just drink lots of water. Note: no way to know for sure how much of my relief is from the Botox (I've only had two treatments) or the Qulipta. I hope to continue taking both!"

• Alm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2022

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "Thought I was suffering sinus headaches. 2 Drs. diagnosed migraines. Take 60 mg Qulipta before bed. Constipation is unbelievable. Went from a few days between relief to 8 days. Nothing helps. I still have constant 'sinus' pressure, but it's not severe. I haven't paid anything for 3 months. Now the pharmacy is saying they need insurance approval. I won't pay more than $1000 for this medicine. Taking the last pill tonight."

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2024

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "Had significant relief from daily headaches immediately. Did not help with aura, neck pain, or dizziness. Unfortunately, the severe constipation and stomach pain continued to worsen to the point I had to stop using this medication."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2024

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I am taking Qulipta as a replacement for Fioricet. It works, though not as well. It also has more side effects, causing significant fatigue, constipation, and nausea. I am hoping that the side effects lessen after taking Qulipta for a bit longer as I have only been on it 2-3 weeks. If the side effects do not reduce, the limited benefit of somewhat reduced headache intensity and frequency will not outweigh the detriment of the side effects."

• thr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2025

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "I started on 60 mg, which was great for my migraines, but the constipation was so severe that multiple doses of Miralax did nothing. I moved my dose down to 30 mg, and it’s less of a problem. It actually helps my IBS-D now, which is an added bonus. My migraines are far less, but I still have flare-ups occasionally. Still, much less than before. I’m able to enjoy life again. I was having 20-25+ migraine days a month, and now I have them only during a flare-up (which can last like a week). I highly recommend. Topamax, Effexor, and propranolol didn’t really help my migraines, but this did."

• Man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 6, 2025

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "Qulipta has been a miracle drug for me and has changed my life in countless ways. I am a lifetime sufferer of chronic migraine (40+ years). Within the past few years, the episodes became so chronic I was in pain and sick almost every day. I thought I was going to be permanently disabled. I tried everything: all the off-label medications, NSAIDs, sumatriptan, acupuncture, massage, vitamins, various diets, etc. With my first dose of Qulipta, the migraine in progress went away. Within a month, the frequency reduced to 3-4 a month. Now I get a migraine episode every 6 weeks or so, and it is very easy to treat and eliminate. I have never had episodes this infrequently in my entire life. I have been on 60 mg daily for about 10 months. The only side effect I notice is slight constipation at times. If you are considering this drug, DO IT!"

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2024

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I've been on the 60mg dose for about 18 days now. So far, I've been migraine-free. Before medication, I was having around 9-12 migraines a month. I would have brain fog and numbness in my ears. I've struggled over 25+ years on different medications to help. I did have mild constipation for the first 3 days, that has begun to get better. The medication also makes you feel like you're not hungry or thirsty. I am reminding myself to drink more fluids because it can cause dehydration and stinky pee. It did change my pee flow, something that wasn't listed as a side effect but I experienced. At first, I thought maybe bladder infection (UTI) wasn't the case. So just remember to drink fluids. My brain feels clear and no more brain fog. I was consuming so many doses of pain control medication before this new medication. I'm completely off all other meds. Take note of your side effects."

• Quz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2024

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "I've had nothing but fantastic results from Qulipta. I've been taking 30 mg/day for over two years. My headaches have been reduced by at least 80%, and if I do get one, it's not very bad. I take half a Maxalt or even OTC meds, and it's gone. My neurology nurse practitioner who prescribed it says that she hears this a lot, and she doesn't hear of side effects. The most frequent side effects are nausea and constipation, and I had both of those problems before I started taking it. I haven't gotten any worse with those things, so I can accurately say 'no side effects for me.' I couldn't be happier. Just amazing."

• Bow...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2024

Atogepant for Migraine Prevention "Qulipta has been extremely effective for me. I’ve been taking it for 8 months, and in that time have only had 3 migraines. I used to get 4-6 a month on average. The three I got while on Qulipta all came when I had several triggers, and they responded well to my triptan. My only side effect has been some mild constipation, which I have found easy to manage with the occasional smooth move tea."

• Kar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2024

For Migraine Prevention "I used Atogepant for over six months. I suffer from migraines and all types of headaches. I used it in conjunction with migraine Botox treatment. The combination of the two definitely improved the quantity and severity. The only downside was the pain on my right lower back due to constipation despite eating a lot of fiber as well as fatigue and cravings. I have been off the Atogepant for over two weeks and have been suffering from migraines and headaches again. Insurance does not want to cover the Atogepant..."

• wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2025

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "I didn't have one migraine while I took it for 3 weeks. I was really excited. Unfortunately, the constipation and stomach pain were just not worth it. I tried 30 mg. Besides the side effects, this was the most effective migraine med I've ever tried."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2024

For Chronic Migraine "It seems okay. Had migraines daily for the last five years, but they seem to help a bit. Constipation my main side effect. I have nerve block and Botox as well. Been on it 3 months, but it definitely helping my migraines. Just don’t miss a dose because you will know it. I am on 60 mg."

• 808...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 3, 2025

Atogepant for Chronic Migraine "I have tried nearly every available treatment for chronic migraine. I was getting so many, and then treating them individually, that I was getting 'rebound' head pain. It is an awful cycle. I was unsure how I was going to be able to continue working due to my severe migraines 10-15 days per month. After a battle with my insurance company, who made me try a myriad of seemingly unrelated medications, I was finally able to get Qulipta. I knew it worked because my neuro had given me a 2-week sample dose. Qulipta has changed my life. I get maybe 1-2 per month now, and they are so mild I can just carry on with my day. I have my life back - I no longer live in fear of a migraine ruining every event. They will warn you constipation is a main side effect. If you are already living a healthy lifestyle with lots of water, fiber, veggies - it should be mild enough."

• Yra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2025

For Migraine Prevention "I have had severe hemiplegic migraines for 30 years - normally 6-8 a month. I started on 60 mg of Atogepant in December, but it was making me too fatigued, so I cut the tablets in half and have been taking 30 mg a day for a month now. This month, for the first time in 30 years, I had ZERO migraines. This drug is an actual miracle - I feel like I've won the lottery. Only side effect for me is constipation, but I can deal with that. Game changer."