{"id":630283,"date":"2024-11-04T16:07:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T21:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630283"},"modified":"2025-09-24T10:31:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:31:18","slug":"nurtec-side-effects-hair-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/nurtec-side-effects-hair-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Nurtec hair loss: Why it may happen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nurtec ODT (orally disintegrating tablet) is a brand-name prescription drug used for migraine prevention and the treatment of acute migraine headaches. Rimegepant, the active ingredient in Nurtec, works by blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors, stopping the domino effect of inflammation and pain that characterizes a migraine headache.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nurtec<\/span><\/a> is a safe, effective migraine medication, but it\u2019s not without side effects. Abdominal pain and nausea are the most common ones. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not list hair loss as a side effect of Nurtec, but some people have reported hair loss or thinning while taking this drug. So, does Nurtec cause hair loss? Not directly. Here\u2019s what you should know about why you might experience hair loss on Nurtec and what to do about it.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Does Nurtec cause hair loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The short answer is no. There\u2019s no proof that Nurtec directly causes hair loss, medically known as alopecia, and it\u2019s not a confirmed side effect. However, there have been reports of hair loss while on this drug, and it might have something to do with how Nurtec blocks CGRP receptors, according to Lauren R. Natbony, MD, medical director of <\/span>Integrative Headache Medicine of New York<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnecdotally, I will say that patients have reported hair loss on some of the <\/span>CGRP monoclonal antibodies<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Dr. Natbony<\/a> says. However, she says those patients were on other CGRP blockers, not Nurtec.<\/span><\/p>\n

As of June 2024, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Public Dashboard shows 57 patient or healthcare provider reports of hair loss (alopecia) during Nurtec ODT use. To put that number into perspective, reports of alopecia made up only 0.75% of submissions related to Nurtec. In comparison, 41% of submissions about Nurtec reported that the drug was ineffective, while nearly 10% reported nausea as an adverse reaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>review of the FAERS cases<\/span><\/a> published in <\/span>Cephalalgia<\/span><\/i>, the official journal of the International Headache Society, suggests that \u201cdisruptions in the microvascular circulation\u201d might have contributed to the reported hair loss. When CGRP blockers prevent rapid dilation of blood vessels in the head (a key cause of migraine pain), perhaps the disrupted circulation might also reduce blood flow to hair follicles. Indeed, Dr. Natbony says it\u2019s possible that <\/span>CGRP plays a role in promoting hair growth<\/span><\/a>. \u201cBy blocking it, it is plausible that hair loss may occur,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, there have not been enough controlled studies to definitively link Nurtec use to hair loss. More research is needed to understand Nurtec and other CGRP blockers’ role in hair growth or loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other Nurtec side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nurtec is not known for having a long list of side effects. In <\/span>clinical trials reported on the drug label<\/span><\/a>, the most commonly reported side effects were nausea and abdominal pain. Both of these occurred in about 2% of participants, with nausea being slightly more common than stomach pain or indigestion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nurtec\u2019s most <\/span>serious side effects<\/span><\/a> are a skin rash and trouble breathing, which occurred in less than 1% of participants in the clinical trial. These adverse events were linked to allergic reactions. Although these are relatively mild signs of an allergic reaction, any drug allergy has the potential to be serious. If you experience a skin rash or difficulty breathing after taking Nurtec, it\u2019s a good idea to tell your healthcare provider right away.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Nurtec side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n