{"id":7994,"date":"2020-01-06T17:35:50","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T22:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7994"},"modified":"2021-09-07T17:37:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T21:37:08","slug":"ubrelvy-ubrogepant-migraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/ubrelvy-ubrogepant-migraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Ubrelvy, the new FDA-approved medication that cures migraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

In nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households, someone suffers from migraine, according to the <\/span>Migraine Research Foundation<\/span><\/a>. And many of those affected haven\u2019t found a medication that works. Now, there is a new <\/span>migraine treatment<\/span><\/a> option on the horizon. The FDA recently approved Ubrelvy (ubrogepant), a medication that acts quickly to help shorten the length of migraines.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is migraine?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Migraine is not just a severe headache. In fact, migraine <\/span>is counted as<\/span><\/a> the sixth most disabling illness in the world. Aside from intense head pain, visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face often accompany migraines.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED<\/b>: <\/span>When to talk to your doctor about a prescription for migraines<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

How common are migraines?<\/span><\/h2>\n

12% of the population\u2014including 10% of children\u2014experience migraines. They affect 18% of American women and 6% of men. In total, that\u2019s more than 4 million people who have chronic daily migraine and experience more than 15 migraine days a month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraine remedies<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many prescription medications available to prevent migraine, and treat the symptoms once one starts. In addition, physicians sometimes recommend lifestyle changes (such as reducing stress or dimming the lights), urge patients to take over-the-counter or prescription strength NSAIDs (such as <\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>) to manage pain, prescribe antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, beta blockers, and even advise patients to receive <\/span>Botox injections<\/span><\/a> to reduce the frequency and symptoms of their migraines.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED<\/b>: <\/span>Should you take Topamax for your migraines?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

What is Ubrelvy (ubrogepant)?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is the latest treatment for migraines (with or without aura). It\u2019s a novel treatment, meaning, it\u2019s the first time this drug class is approved to treat migraines. That could be life-changing news for patients who haven\u2019t experienced relief from existing drugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The FDA-approved medication is clinically proven to shorten the length of migraine episodes, as well as reduce the pain and symptoms associated with them. It works by blocking the effects of calcitonin gene\u2013related peptide (CGRP) receptor. CGRP has been proven to be one internal component that triggers and sustains migraines. <\/span>And although there are other\u00a0 drugs<\/span><\/a>\u2014injections by the name of <\/span>Aimovig<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Emgality<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Ajovy<\/span><\/a>\u2014that prevent migraines by blocking CGRP, Ubrelvy stands apart because it is an oral medication that works to cure migraines when they\u2019re already happening. It comes with two dosing options (50 and 100 mg tablets) to provide flexibility for patients\u2019 needs and to optimize effectiveness for the largest population.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ubrelvy passed clinical trials and tests, which led to its final approval from the administration. According to the FDA, the medication\u2019s effectiveness was demonstrated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. During the studies, 1,439 adult patients with a history of migraine (with and without aura) received the approved doses of Ubrelvy to treat an ongoing migraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

In both studies, approximately 19% of patients reported feeling no pain two hours after treatment (defined as a reduction in headache severity from moderate or severe pain to \u201cno pain\u201d) and 38.6% reported feeling complete relief from their most bothersome additional migraine symptom (nausea, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity) two hours after treatment. These percentages are significantly higher among patients receiving Ubrelvy (at any dose) compared to those who received a placebo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common side effects of Ubrelvy are nausea and somnolence (fatigue).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs the first oral gepant, Ubrelvy offers a new and different type of acute treatment option for people living with the debilitating pain and other symptoms of migraine,” David Nicholson, executive vice president and chief R&D officer of Ubrelvy\u2019s licensing company, Allergan, said in a <\/span>press release<\/span><\/a>. “Its oral administration with two dose strengths allows for treatment flexibility and relief when a migraine attack occurs. As we continue to drive innovation in migraine treatment, we are very proud to offer patients another option, and we are confident that it will make a difference for those in need. At Allergan, we believe that migraine patients deserve access to all new medications for this debilitating disease.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When will Ubrelby<\/span> (ubrogepant) be available?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Allergan says that its new migraine treatment Ubrelvy will be available in the first quarter of 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

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