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Does Qulipta cause weight loss?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Jan 20, 2025.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Yes, you may lose some weight if you are taking Qulipta. Weight loss was observed in all Qulipta studies, which included over 2,600 people. Results showed that 3.2% to 5.3% of patients taking Qulipta lost at least 7% of their body weight, compared to 2.5% of those taking a pill with no medicine (placebo). Weight loss may occur due to nausea and loss of appetite.

What is the average weight loss on Qulipta?

The percent of people who lost at least 7% of their weight at any point during 6- to 12-month long studies was:

  • 5.3% of people taking the 60 mg dose
  • 3.2% of people taking the 30 mg dose
  • 3.8% of people taking the 10 mg dose
  • 2.5% of people taking the placebo (inactive pill)

As an example, a 7% weight loss in someone who weighs 150 lbs (68 kg) is 10.5 lbs (5.3 kg).

Qulipta dosing

The recommended oral doses for Qulipta (atogepant) are:

  • 10 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg taken once daily for prevention of episodic migraine
  • 60 mg taken once daily for prevention of chronic migraine

You can take your dose with or without food.

Dose adjustments may be necessary for patients with kidney disease. Tell your doctor if you have any medical problems with your kidneys.

Why does Qulipta cause weight loss?

You may experience side effects like nausea or loss of appetite while taking Qulipta, and this may contribute to weight loss. In studies, up to 9% of patients taking Qulipta experienced nausea and loss of appetite occurred in up to 3%.

Nausea is considered a common and dose-related side effect with Qulipta. Nausea is also a known symptom of migraine headaches.

In Qulipta studies, nausea occurred in 9% of those taking the 60 mg dose, 6% of those taking the 30 mg dose, 5% of those taking the 10 mg dose, and 3% of those taking the placebo. Less than 1% of people in studies stopped treatment due to nausea, and this side effect may improve over time.

A decrease in appetite also occurred, but less frequently than nausea. Loss of appetite occurred in 1% to 3% of patients taking Qulipta, compared to less than 1% of those taking a placebo.

In general, Qulipta is well-tolerated by most people. The most common side effects (occurring in at least 4% of people and greater than placebo) are nausea, constipation, and fatigue / somnolence (feeling tired or sleepy).

Related questions

What can I do?

Contact your healthcare provider if you notice unexpected weight loss or ongoing nausea while taking Qulipta. Your doctor may adjust your dose, suggest you take your dose with food, or further assess your migraines to determine if a change in treatment is needed.

Learn more: How well does Qulipta work for migraine?

This is not all the information you need to know about Qulipta (atogepant) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References
  • Ailani J, Lipton RB, Goadsby PJ, Guo H, Miceli R, Severt L, Finnegan M, Trugman JM; ADVANCE Study Group. Atogepant for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine. N Engl J Med. 2021 Aug 19;385(8):695-706. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2035908. PMID: 34407343.
  • Qulipta (atogepant) prescribing information. June 2023. AbbVie Inc. North Chicago, Illinois. Accessed Nov 15, 2023 at https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/QULIPTA_pi.pdf
  • Qulipta.com. AbbVie Inc. Accessed Nov 13, 2023 at https://www.quliptahcp.com/powerful#episodic

Read next

When is the best time of the day to take Qulipta?

Take your prescribed dose each day at about the same time, with or without food. Some people feel tired or sleepy when taking Qulipta. If this occurs, ask your healthcare provider if you can take your dose at bedtime. If you feel nauseous, take your daily dose at mealtime. Continue reading

Does Qulipta (atogepant) cause hair loss?

No, hair loss is not a reported side effect of Qulipta from clinical trials and is not in the package insert. Reports suggest that alopecia (hair loss) is an emerging side effect with certain CGRP inhibitor migraine medicines, although larger, more adequately controlled studies are needed. Continue reading

How well does Qulipta work for migraine?

Qulipta, a preventive migraine treatment, has been shown in studies to lead to a 54% reduction in monthly migraine days in patients with episodic migraine (a 4.2-day reduction) and a 36% reduction in patients with chronic migraine headaches (a 6.9-day reduction). Continue reading

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