Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) is a prescription drug taken to treat and prevent migraine. Nurtec ODT can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include nausea, indigestion, and abdominal pain.

Specifically, Nurtec ODT is prescribed in adults:

Nurtec ODT comes as a tablet that dissolves on or under your tongue. (ODT stands for orally disintegrating tablet.) The tablets come in one strength: 75 milligrams (mg).

For more information about Nurtec ODT, see this in-depth article.

Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during their Nurtec ODT treatment. Examples of Nurtec ODT’s more commonly reported side effects include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Nurtec ODT include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. Some may be easily managed, too. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Nurtec ODT unless your doctor recommends it.

Nurtec ODT may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Nurtec ODT prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Nurtec ODT, visit MedWatch.

The only serious side effect that has been reported with Nurtec ODT is allergic reaction. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Nurtec ODT, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Nurtec ODT’s side effects.

Does Nurtec ODT cause long-term side effects?

No, not usually. There weren’t any long-term side effects reported in Nurtec ODT’s studies.

Some side effects, like nausea, typically go away as your body gets used to the drug. But it’s important to note that migraine headaches can also cause nausea. So while it’s possible to experience nausea throughout treatment with Nurtec ODT, the drug may not be causing it.

If you have a long-term side effect that’s persistent or bothersome, talk with your doctor. They’ll help determine whether Nurtec ODT is causing it. Your doctor can also advise ways to manage any side effects you may have.

Can Nurtec ODT 75 mg cause weight gain?

No, weight gain isn’t a known side effect of Nurtec ODT 75 milligrams (mg). Weight gain wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.

Certain other drugs used on a long-term basis to help prevent migraine headaches can cause weight gain. Examples include divalproex (Depakote and Depakote ER) and amitriptyline. But weight gain wasn’t reported in studies of people who took Nurtec ODT to help prevent migraine headaches.

If you’re concerned about weight gain with Nurtec ODT, talk with your doctor.

Also, talk with your doctor if you’ve experienced weight gain from other drugs taken to prevent migraine headaches. They can advise whether Nurtec ODT could be a treatment option for you.

Will Nurtec ODT make me sleepy?

No, sleepiness isn’t a known side effect of Nurtec ODT. Sleepiness wasn’t reported in studies of Nurtec ODT.

Certain other drugs used to treat migraine symptoms can cause sleepiness. Examples of these include:

  • triptans, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex)
  • ubrogepant (Ubrelvy), which belongs to the same group of drugs as Nurtec ODT

Certain other drugs used to prevent migraine symptoms can also cause sleepiness. Examples of these include:

  • amitriptyline
  • divalproex (Depakote and Depakote ER)
  • topiramate (Topamax)
  • venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

Note that having a migraine headache can make you feel drowsy or sleepy. It can also make you feel tired for a couple of days afterward.

If sleepiness has been a problem with other medications that you take for migraine, talk with your doctor. They may suggest Nurtec ODT as a treatment option for you.

Does Nurtec ODT increase blood pressure?

No, Nurtec ODT doesn’t increase blood pressure. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.

Certain other drugs used to treat or prevent migraine can increase blood pressure. For example, increased blood pressure is a side effect of erenumab (Aimovig), which belongs to the same group of drugs as Nurtec ODT. Increased blood pressure can also occur with triptan medications, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), that are prescribed to treat migraine headaches.

If you’re concerned about increased blood pressure with Nurtec ODT, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide if this treatment is right for your condition.

Is Nurtec ODT safe for older people?

Yes, Nurtec ODT is likely safe for older adults to take. The drug’s studies included adults ages 65 years and older. In addition, the drug’s manufacturer doesn’t give any warnings about older adults taking Nurtec ODT.

If you have concerns about whether Nurtec ODT is safe for you, talk with your doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects Nurtec ODT may cause.

Nausea

You may have nausea when taking Nurtec ODT. Nausea was the most common side effect reported by people who took this drug in studies.

Nausea is usually mild and may decrease as your body gets used to the medication. But note that nausea is also a symptom that many people have with a migraine headache.

What might help

If you have nausea while taking Nurtec ODT to prevent migraine headaches, it may ease with continued treatment. But if you have nausea that’s severe, troublesome, or lasts longer than a couple of weeks, talk with your doctor. They may recommend taking a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication to treat the nausea.

If you have nausea after taking Nurtec ODT to treat a migraine headache, it may ease as your headache gets better. If you still have nausea after 2 hours, you can take an antinausea medication to help relieve it. Some of these are available OTC, while others are prescription-only drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a suitable medication.

Here are some other tips for relieving nausea caused by Nurtec ODT or a migraine headache:

  • Try drinking ginger or peppermint tea.
  • Eat a bland snack, such as a cracker or a piece of dry toast.
  • Take frequent sips of water.
  • Rest in a cool, quiet, dark place.

For more nausea remedies to try, see this article.

If you have nausea with a migraine headache and Nurtec ODT makes the nausea worse, talk with your doctor. They may recommend taking a medication other than Nurtec ODT to treat your symptoms.

Indigestion

Some people may have indigestion with Nurtec ODT. In studies, indigestion was one of the most common side effects reported by people who took Nurtec ODT to prevent migraine headaches.

This side effect is usually mild and may decrease as your body gets used to the medication.

What might help

If you have indigestion with Nurtec ODT, taking the drug with food may help decrease this side effect. But be aware that this might make the drug take longer to work or make it less effective.

Drinking peppermint, chamomile, or fennel tea can sometimes ease indigestion.

OTC antacids may also be helpful to relieve indigestion. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a suitable product.

If you have indigestion that’s severe, troublesome, or lasts longer than a couple of weeks, talk with your doctor. They may suggest a medication to relieve indigestion. Or they may recommend taking a different medication for your migraine headaches.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Nurtec ODT can cause an allergic reaction in some people. In studies, allergic reactions to Nurtec ODT were rare.

Allergic reactions can occur soon after taking the drug. But delayed allergic reactions that happen a few days after taking the drug are also possible.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. To help manage your symptoms, they may suggest an OTC oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Or they may recommend a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Nurtec ODT, they’ll decide if you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Nurtec ODT, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Nurtec ODT treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects you’re having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect
  • what your symptoms were from the side effect
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were also taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Nurtec ODT affects you. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Nurtec ODT may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Nurtec ODT. The list below includes factors to consider.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Nurtec ODT or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Nurtec ODT. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Severe kidney problems: Nurtec ODT hasn’t been studied in people with end-stage kidney disease. Your doctor may not prescribe Nurtec ODT if you have this condition. If you’re having dialysis or had a kidney transplant, ask your doctor if Nurtec ODT is right for you.

Severe liver problems: If you have severe liver problems, Nurtec ODT could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of side effects. Your doctor will likely not prescribe Nurtec ODT if you have severe liver problems. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Alcohol and Nurtec ODT

Drinking alcohol isn’t known to affect Nurtec ODT. But if you have nausea with Nurtec ODT, drinking alcohol could make this side effect worse.

Note that drinking alcohol during a migraine headache could also worsen your symptoms.

Some people find that drinking alcohol can also trigger migraine headaches. If you’re not sure what your migraine triggers are, it can be useful to keep a migraine diary. This can help you determine what factors may be involved in causing your migraine headaches to help you avoid triggers.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe to drink while taking Nurtec ODT.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Nurtec ODT

It’s not known whether Nurtec ODT is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of taking Nurtec ODT.

If you take Nurtec ODT during pregnancy, you could consider enrolling in the Migraine Observational Nurtec Pregnancy Registry (MONITOR). This registry gathers information about the safety of Nurtec ODT and similar drugs during pregnancy. To learn more, visit the registry’s website or call 877-366-0324. You can also talk with your doctor for more information.

Nurtec ODT passes into breast milk if it’s taken while breastfeeding. However, it’s not known what effects, if any, Nurtec ODT might have on a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of taking Nurtec ODT while breastfeeding.

Nurtec ODT has very few side effects, and these are usually mild and easily managed. Serious allergic reactions are possible, but these are rare.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Nurtec ODT, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide whether Nurtec ODT could be an option for treating or preventing your migraine headaches.

Examples of questions you might want to ask your doctor include:

  • Is Nurtec ODT safe for people with heart disease?
  • Is it safe to take Nurtec ODT with other migraine medications?
  • Can anything raise my risk of side effects with Nurtec ODT?
  • How do Nurtec ODT side effects compare with side effects of other migraine medications?

To learn more about Nurtec ODT, see these articles:

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Q:

Do other medications increase my risk of having side effects with Nurtec ODT?

Anonymous

A:

Yes, there are other medications that, when taken with Nurtec ODT, may increase your risk of side effects. These medications prevent the breakdown of Nurtec ODT, which can result in higher levels of the drug in your body.

Examples of such drugs include:

For some of these drugs, you should not take a second dose of Nurtec ODT within 48 hours after your first dose. Examples include erythromycin and fluconazole. But if you take certain others, your doctor may not prescribe Nurtec ODT to treat your condition.

This list doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Nurtec ODT. You can refer to this article for more details about Nurtec ODT’s interactions.

Before you start taking Nurtec ODT, tell your doctor about all drugs you may be taking. They can let you know if any will interact with Nurtec ODT.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.