Skip to main content
Drug Info

Nurtec generic availability, cost, and dosage

There is not a Nurtec generic on the market yet but here are ways to save on your Nurtec prescription
Spilled pill bottle: Is there a Nurtec generic?

Key takeaways

  • Clinical studies support Nurtec’s safety and effectiveness for ongoing migraine prevention.

  • Nurtec (rimegepant) currently has no generic version available and it could be 2040 or beyond before a generic is available for sale.

  • Patients can consider alternatives like other CGRP inhibitors, triptans, ergots, or NSAIDs. Switching medications should always be done with a healthcare provider’s supervision to ensure safety and effectiveness.

FDA approved as a preventive treatment of episodic migraine headaches in 2020, Nurtec has become a popular prescription medication for adults who commonly get them. And although it’s an effective treatment, some individuals may still want to know if there are generic versions or alternatives available. Here’s all the important information.  

Is there a generic for Nurtec?

There is no generic version of Nurtec (generic name: rimegepant) currently available. And it doesn’t appear that one will hit the market anytime in the near future since Nurtec’s manufacturer, Pfizer, has a patent on the drug until 2039. 

But don’t expect to see a generic on pharmacy shelves the day after the patent expires, either. According to a study from Canada, the average time to develop a generic drug after the brand-name patent has expired is around 1.5 years. That average might be slightly different in the US, but those who are waiting for a Nurtec generic might be waiting until 2040 or later. 

What are the differences between brand name and generic Nurtec?

Even when a generic version of rimegepant hits the market, some might wonder if it’s actually a viable alternative to brand-name Nurtec ODT. The answer is yes. The Food and Drug Administration requires that all generics be virtually identical to their reference products. That means they must have the same:

  • Active ingredient
  • Strength
  • Dosage form (tablet, capsule, liquid, etc.)
  • Administration route (oral, topical, injection, etc.)

Additionally, generic drugs must work the same way in the body. “During a migraine, CGRP levels rise, causing blood vessels in the brain to widen and triggering inflammation and pain,” says Dr. James Lyons, MD, a medical consultant at Synergy Houses. “By stopping CGRP from binding to its receptors, Nurtec helps reduce these effects, easing migraine symptoms and even preventing future attacks when taken regularly.” An approved generic would function the exact same way and would be available in the same formats—oral tablets with a maximum dose of 75 mg. 

But are generics as effective? Research suggests that they are. A study from 2019 compared brand-name and generic drugs for several chronic diseases—including high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and mental health conditions—and found that they performed virtually the same. Likewise, a study on antihypertensive drugs showed that generics match brand-name drugs for preventing cardiovascular disease in safety and efficacy. 

“Brand-name and generic drugs should be equally efficacious because they share the same active ingredient to treat the indicated condition,” says Dr. Tiffany Khieu, PharmD, an assistant professor at Marshall B. Ketchum University. “If differences do exist, it is seen in the excipients, also known as the non-active ingredients,” such as dyes, fillers, or coating agents. 

The major difference between them isn’t in the biochemistry, active ingredient, administration, or dosage, but in the price. Generics are typically much cheaper than brand-name drugs. 

How much is generic Nurtec?

It’s tough to imagine the pharmaceutical and economic landscape over a decade from now, but if everything is similar to now, the eventual generic rimegepant will likely be much more affordable than Nurtec. For people who pay completely out of pocket, Nurtec typically costs around $1,353 for a box of eight disintegrating tablets (a single dose taken every other day, as needed).

Without a generic on the market, we can’t directly compare prices, but generics can be 80–85% less expensive than their brand-name counterparts. 

Not everyone has to pay $1,000+ for their Nurtec, however. Nurtec’s website says that 96% of people with commercial health insurance received coverage for the drug. The amount of insurance coverage can vary based on the insurance plan, and some insurance companies may require prior authorization, but it can make the cost of Nurtec much more manageable. There are other ways to save, too, like free Nurtec coupons and the Nurtec copay card

What are the off-label uses for Nurtec?

When a drug isn’t technically approved to treat a certain medical condition, but when a doctor prescribes it anyway, that’s an off-label prescription. They’re totally legal, and many prescription drugs have a few specific uses that aren’t listed on the label. “The majority of data available is the prevention of migraines and treatment of acute migraines,” Dr. Khieu says. So Nurtec’s only FDA approvals are for the acute treatment of migraine headaches (with or without aura) and preventative treatment of migraine episodes.

“However, some doctors may use it off-label for other headache disorders, like cluster headaches or post-concussion headaches,” and “research is still ongoing into whether CGRP inhibitors like Nurtec could be helpful for other neurological conditions,” Dr. Lyons says. 

How to switch from Nurtec to an alternative

So if generic Nurtec is unavailable, but you want a substitute, what do you do? The first step is getting medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. They can help determine which might be the best option for you. Some common Nurtec alternatives for migraine prevention or pain relief include:

  • Other CGRP receptor antagonists: Aimovig (erenumab), Ajovy (fremanezumab), Emgality (galcanezumab)
  • Triptans: Frova (frovatriptan), Maxalt (rizatriptan)
  • Ergots: Ergomar (ergotamine), dihydroergotamine
  • Over-the-counter medications: NSAIDs like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin

These treatment options might not be cheaper across the board, but some of them might have generic options, and others might work better with your specific insurance plan. 

Regardless, “Switching between migraine medications should always be done with a doctor’s guidance,” Dr. Lyons says. “If moving from Nurtec to another CGRP inhibitor, the transition is usually simple since they work similarly. However, if switching to triptans or preventive meds, it is important to monitor how well the new medication works and whether there are any side effects or interactions.”

There’s no evidence that a change from Nurtec can cause withdrawals, but it’s still best to establish a transition plan with your healthcare provider first. That way, you can avoid potential drug interactions and move to a medicine that’s well-suited to your condition. 

Long-term use of Nurtec

While each migraine headache might only last for a couple of hours or days, they can recur over weeks and months—so Nurtec can be a long-term treatment. Fortunately, “Nurtec is generally safe for long-term use and does not cause medication-overuse headaches, which can be an issue with some migraine treatments,” Dr. Lyons says. 

Those benefits are well-documented in findings from clinical studies. A 52-week study on 1,800 patients treated with rimegepant found that the patients’ use of analgesics or antiemetics for migraine treatment decreased over time. Another study of Nurtec ODT showed that 78.6% of patients treated with the drug over a full year reported at least a 30% reduction in the number of monthly migraine days, while 63.3% reported at least a 50% decrease. 

On top of that, the use of Nurtec ODT has relatively few adverse effects, even for long-term use. The most common side effects of Nurtec are nausea, abdominal pain, and indigestion—and these possible side effects don’t have any long-term consequences. The drug didn’t show any serious side effects in clinical trials, although it may cause allergic reactions like rashes and trouble breathing.