Preventing migraines with Quipta

With the approval of drugs called “CGRP antagonists,” migraine These medications work in a different way than traditional medications to treat or prevent migraines. The first CGRP antagonists were only available as an injection and were approved only for migraine prevention. Crypta Q-Lipta was approved in 2021 as a preventive drug for migraine attacks. In 2023, CGRP antagonists Prevents migraines of all frequency, including both episodic and chronic. Episodic migraines are headaches that last up to 14 days per month. Chronic migraines are headaches that last at least 15 days per month.

A migraine is a severe headache, usually throbbing and pulsating on one side, that can recur multiple times and last up to 72 hours. It can also be accompanied by what are known as auras, which can be accompanied by other symptoms such as vision changes, numbness or speech problems.

The active ingredient in Qulipta is atogepant, sometimes called “gepant.” It is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist. CGRP is a protein that dilates blood vessels, which can cause pain and inflammation during a migraine. CGRP may also play a role in causing migraines. CGRP antagonists, such as Qulipta, prevent CGRP from binding to its receptors and exerting its effects. Blocking CGRP can help prevent future migraine attacks.

Qulipta comes in 10, 30, or 60 milligram tablets taken by mouth with or without food. Dosage depends on whether you are taking it for episodic migraine prevention or chronic migraine prevention. For episodic migraine, the recommended dose is 10 milligrams, 30 milligrams, or 60 milligrams once daily. For chronic migraine, the recommended dose is 60 milligrams once daily.

If you have severe liver or kidney disease or are undergoing dialysis, you may need to avoid taking Qulipta, or your healthcare provider may prescribe a lower dose. You may also need to reduce or avoid taking Qulipta if you are taking certain other medicines. See the Interactions section for more information. Under.

For prevention Intermittent migrainesTwo studies were conducted to see if Qulipta was effective compared to a placebo that didn't contain the drug. People who took part in the studies didn't know whether they were taking Qulipta or a placebo.

Both studies included people with a history of migraines, with or without aura, for at least one year. Participants could take medications to treat acute headaches as needed (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or triptans). They could not take any other medications that affect CGRP, nor could they take any other medications to prevent migraines (such as topiramate, propranolol, or amitriptyline).

The study participants suffered from migraines an average of about 19 days per month before the study began. Most of the study participants were female (87%) and white (60%). The average age of the study participants was 42 years old.

Efficacy was measured by the change in the average number of monthly migraine days over the three-month study period. People who took 60 milligrams of Qulipta once daily to prevent chronic migraines had about 7 fewer monthly migraine days, while people who took a placebo had about 5 fewer monthly migraine days.

Results may differ from those seen in clinical trials.

Qulipta is a medication to be taken once daily to prevent migraines. Do not use it to treat acute migraines. Talk to your healthcare provider about how best to treat acute migraines.

Crypta will begin to help prevent migraines within a few weeks of starting. Tell your healthcare provider if the number of headaches you have each month does not decrease. Headache Diary Record when your migraine occurs and when you take your migraine medication. This will help you and your healthcare provider know how well the medication is working.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, consider taking it at a regular time – the same time every day, for example after brushing your teeth. You could also use a calendar or smartphone reminder.

The most common side effects are nausea, constipation, fatigue, and drowsiness.

nausea Nausea is a common symptom that typically occurs with migraines. To reduce nausea, try simple measures such as eating bland foods like toast and crackers and avoiding strong smells like cooking, perfume, and smoke. If you experience nausea frequently during a migraine, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to suppress nausea.

If you have constipationThere are several strategies to help prevent and manage constipation, such as drinking plenty of fluids, including more high-fiber fruits and vegetables in your diet, exercising most days of the week if possible, and trying to adjust your position on the toilet to make it easier to empty, such as leaning back, elevating your legs or squatting.

Qulipta may cause fatigue or drowsiness, so do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how Qulipta affects you.

Some medications can affect your blood levels of Qulipta. Your body has enzymes and proteins that process many types of drugs and move them out of your body. Other medications can also affect this process and may cause Qulipta to be broken down and removed from your body more slowly or quickly.

For example, taking Qulipta with medications that inhibit certain enzymes or proteins can increase the amount of Qulipta in your body. This can lead to excessive and dangerous side effects. Grapefruit juice may also inhibit some of these enzymes.

On the other hand, taking Qulipta with medicines that induce certain enzymes can reduce the amount of Qulipta in your body, making Qulipta less effective or not work at all.

If you are taking certain medicines that inhibit or induce these enzymes or proteins, you may not be able to take Qulipta at all, or your healthcare provider may need to prescribe a lower dose. Ask your pharmacist or other healthcare provider if any of the medicines you take may interact with Qulipta.

Tell your healthcare provider all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are taking or have recently taken. Also tell them if you have eaten grapefruit or drunk grapefruit juice. This will help your healthcare provider determine if there is an interaction with Qulipta or if a dose adjustment is needed. Do not start or stop taking any other medicines while taking Qulipta without talking to your healthcare provider.

You will need a prescription from a healthcare provider. Your primary care physician, neurologist, or headache specialist may prescribe it for you, and it is available at any pharmacy.

Pharmaceutical companies offer copay cards that allow you to pay $0 for your prescriptions. Eligibility depends on whether and what type of insurance you have. For more information, see https://www.qulipta.com/savings-support/qulipta-complete-savings-program.