{"id":631660,"date":"2025-03-21T09:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631660"},"modified":"2025-03-20T10:37:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T14:37:46","slug":"ubrelvy-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ubrelvy-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you drink on Ubrelvy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A migraine attack is like a strong storm brewing in your head\u2014intense, unrelenting, and often debilitating. The throbbing, pulsating headache is often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and vision changes, making even simple tasks impossible to complete. If you’ve ever experienced a migraine headache, you know that you’d do anything to make it go away.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ubrelvy<\/span><\/a>, the brand name for ubrogepant, is commonly prescribed to stop acute migraine attacks in their tracks. It belongs to a class of drugs known as CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) receptor antagonists, which block the action of CGRP. This molecule is thought to play a crucial role in the development of migraines. Ubrelvy is unique in that it provides<\/span> relief from migraine symptoms<\/span><\/a> amid an attack without the need for over-the-counter pain relievers like<\/span> ibuprofen<\/span><\/a> or<\/span> aspirin<\/span><\/a>. Ubrelvy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acute migraine treatment with or without aura. However, it’s not effective for migraine prevention.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may be wondering if it’s safe to drink alcohol while taking Ubrelvy. While moderate consumption might not pose a severe risk, there are potential Ubrelvy interactions and side effects to be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you drink alcohol with Ubrelvy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

“Drinking alcohol while taking Ubrelvy is not recommended,” says <\/span>Andrew Youssouf<\/span><\/a>, MD, a dual board-certified physician and the Medical Director at Ikon Recovery in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. He says that although there is no known direct drug interaction between Ubrelvy and alcohol, combining them can additively increase the risk of side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and cognitive impairment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alcohol and migraines\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

“Alcohol is also a known <\/span>migraine trigger <\/span><\/a>for many people, meaning that drinking while treating a migraine with Ubrelvy could worsen symptoms rather than relieve them,” Dr. Youssouf points out. What’s more, alcohol can contribute to dehydration, another common migraine trigger that can interfere with the body\u2019s ability to recover.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What happens if you mix Ubrelvy and alcohol?<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the common concerns when combining any medication with alcohol is its impact on liver health. Ubrelvy is <\/span>not known to cause liver damage<\/span><\/a>; however, <\/span>alcohol can affect liver function<\/span><\/a>, especially when consumed in large quantities. Therefore, although Ubrelvy itself is not classified as hepatotoxic, drinking excessively while on this medication can put additional strain on your liver, which can impact your liver\u2019s ability to safely and effectively metabolize Ubrelvy and many other medications. This may increase the risk of side effects and possibly require Ubrelvy dose adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Ubrelvy and alcohol affect the central nervous system (CNS), which means that taking them together can <\/span>increase the risk of side effects<\/span><\/a> like drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and impaired coordination, explains Dr. Youssouf. He adds that because Ubrelvy has mild sedative properties, adding alcohol to the mix can amplify this effect, making activities like driving or operating machinery more dangerous. Additionally, alcohol\u2019s ability to cause dehydration and inflammation can prolong a migraine, reducing the effectiveness of Ubrelvy.<\/span><\/p>\n

“While there are currently no large-scale clinical studies specifically investigating the direct interaction between Ubrelvy and alcohol, <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> on CGRP receptor antagonists suggests that dehydration, inflammation, and CNS depression could reduce the body\u2019s ability to process migraine medications effectively,” says Dr. Youssouf. Given that alcohol can exacerbate migraine symptoms and prolong attacks, he advises avoiding drinking when taking Ubrelvy.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s also advisable to avoid the following prescription drugs, foods, and supplements while taking Ubrelvy due to possible <\/span>drug interactions<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n