Zavzpret (zavegepant) is a prescription drug that’s used in adults to treat migraine episodes with or without aura. The drug comes as a single-dose nasal spray.
Zavzpret basics
Zavzpret contains the active ingredient zavegepant. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a group of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists.
Zavzpret is a brand-name medication. It’s not available as a generic drug.
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Zavzpret. What you’ll pay for Zavzpret may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.
Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:
- Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Zavzpret when using coupons from the site.
- Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Pfizer RxPathways may also be available.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Zavzpret is used in adults to treat migraine episodes that occur with or without aura.
With migraine, you may have severe headache along with other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. With migraine aura, you also have vision, speech, or sensory changes that occur before or during a migraine episode.
Zavzpret is not approved to help prevent migraine episodes. It’s only used for the immediate treatment of migraine.
Zavzpret works by blocking the action of a certain protein thought to play a role in causing migraine. For details, see “How does Zavzpret work?” in the “What are some frequently asked questions about Zavzpret?” section below.
Like most drugs, Zavzpret may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Zavzpret may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Zavzpret. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Zavzpret can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Zavzpret’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Zavzpret that have been reported include:
- nasal discomfort
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of taste or a metallic taste in your mouth
- mild allergic reaction*
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Zavzpret can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Zavzpret, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Zavzpret that have been reported include severe allergic reaction.*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Allergic reactionSome people may have an allergic reaction to Zavzpret. This was a rare side effect reported in studies of the drug.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Zavzpret. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Zavzpret that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strength
Zavzpret comes as a single-use nasal spray. It’s available in one strength of 10 milligrams (mg).
Recommended dosage
You’ll use one spray (10 mg) of Zavzpret in one nostril at the first sign of a migraine episode.
The maximum dosage of Zavzpret is one spray per 24 hours. It isn’t known whether Zavzpret is safe to use more than eight times in 30 days.
If your migraine symptoms don’t ease after using Zavzpret, talk with your doctor. They can recommend other options for treating a migraine episode.
To learn more about Zavzpret’s dosage, see this article.
How to take
Your doctor will explain how you should take Zavzpret. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
You can also see Zavzpret’s instructions for use or visit the manufacturer’s website.
Questions about using Zavzpret
Below are some common questions about using Zavzpret.
- Is there a best time of day to use Zavzpret? Not necessarily. You can use Zavzpret at the start of a migraine episode, regardless of the time of day.
- Will I need to use Zavzpret long term? Possibly, although you won’t use Zavzpret every day. If the drug works well for your condition without causing bothersome side effects, you may use it long term as an immediate treatment for migraine episodes.
- How long does Zavzpret take to work? Zavzpret will likely start easing your migraine symptoms within 2 hours of taking a dose.
Overdose
Do not use more Zavzpret than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to negative effects.
What to do in case you take too much Zavzpret
Call your doctor if you think you’ve used too much Zavzpret. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below is important information you should consider before using Zavzpret.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.
Zavzpret can interact with several other medications. It’s not known to interact with supplements or foods.
Before taking Zavzpret, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Zavzpret. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Zavzpret. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples |
| nasal spray decongestants | • phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) • oxymetazoline (Afrin, Astepro Allergy, others) |
| rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) | — |
| cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) | — |
Zavzpret and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Zavzpret. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while using the drug.
But it’s important to note that alcohol may trigger a migraine episode for some people. If alcohol triggers a migraine episode for you, your doctor may recommend avoiding or limiting alcohol with Zavpret.
If you have other questions about Zavzpret and alcohol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Zavzpret is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
If you have questions about Zavzpret treatment in these situations, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about the risks and benefits of using Zavzpret while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Warnings
Zavzpret can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Zavzpret is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Zavzpret. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- severe kidney problems, such as kidney failure
- severe liver problems, such as liver failure
- previous allergic reaction to Zavzpret
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Zavzpret.
How does Zavzpret work?
Zavzpret is used to treat migraine episodes that occur with or without aura.
Zavzpret works by blocking the action of a protein that’s thought to play a role in causing migraine. Having high levels of this protein in your brain can lead to migraine symptoms such as severe headache. By blocking the action of the protein, Zavzpret eases migraine symptoms.
To learn more about how Zavzpret works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is Zavzpret similar to Imitrex?
Yes, Zavzpret has some similarities to sumatriptan (Imitrex). Doctors prescribe these drugs to treat migraine episodes that occur with or without aura. Both drugs come as a nasal spray. Imitrex comes in other forms as well.
Zavzpret and Imitrex belong to different groups of drugs. Zavzpret is a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist, while Imitrex is a triptan drug. They work in different ways to treat migraine.
To learn more about how Zavzpret compares with Imitrex, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the right treatment for your specific condition.
Can Zavzpret be used to prevent migraine episodes?
No, Zavzpret is not used to help prevent migraine episodes. Instead, it’s used for the immediate treatment of a migraine.
Zavzpret belongs to a group of drugs called CGRP antagonists. Certain other CGRP antagonists are used to help prevent migraine. Examples include erenumab-aooe (Aimovig) and fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy).
To learn more about options for preventing migraine, talk with your doctor.
Other drugs are available that can treat migraine episodes. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Zavzpret, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
The following drugs are similar to Zavzpret:
- other calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists, such as ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) and rimegepant (Nurtec ODT)
- triptans, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
- lasmiditan (Reyvow)
If you have questions about using Zavzpret, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:
- Will Zavzpret interact with any other medications I’m taking?
- How is Zavzpret different from other drugs that treat migraine episodes?
- Should I take other migraine treatments along with Zavzpret?
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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.