Qulipta (atogepant) is a prescription drug used to help prevent episodic and chronic migraine in adults. Qulipta can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include weight loss, fatigue, and nausea.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Qulipta treatment. Examples of Qulipta’s commonly reported side effects include:

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

Qulipta can cause mild side effects. Examples that have been reported include:

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

Qulipta may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

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

Qulipta may cause serious side effects. Serious side effects were not reported in Qulipta’s studies, but some have been reported since Qulipta became available for use.

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

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

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

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Qulipta and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Qulipta can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies, but it’s been reported since Qulipta was approved for use.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

What might help?

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Qulipta.

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’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Qulipta, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

This section contains answers to some common questions about Qulipta’s side effects.

Does stopping Qulipta cause withdrawal symptoms?

No, stopping Qulipta doesn’t cause withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.

However, stopping Qulipta can cause migraine episodes or symptoms to return.

If you’re considering stopping Qulipta, be sure to discuss this with your doctor, and do not stop taking Qulipta without their approval.

Are there specific side effects associated with 10 mg/30 mg/60 mg dosages?

No, there aren’t unique side effects associated with specific Qulipta doses. In Qulipta’s studies, the same side effects were reported with every dose. However, it’s possible that taking a higher dose of Qulipta, like the 60-mg dose, may be more likely to cause side effects than a lower dose.

It’s important to note that taking higher doses may not be safe if you have certain health conditions. For example, your doctor may prescribe a lower Qulipta dosage if you have a liver or kidney problem. This is because certain liver and kidney problems may cause Qulipta to build up in your body. In turn, this could increase your risk of side effects.

If you have questions about which dosage of Qulipta is right for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Qulipta cause weight loss or weight gain?

Weight gain was not a reported side effect in people taking Qulipta in studies. You may experience weight loss from taking this drug because the drug can cause a decrease in appetite and nausea.

If you notice unintentional changes in your weight during your treatment, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine what may be causing the weight change.

Is hair loss a side effect of Qulipta?

No, hair loss was not reported by people taking Qulipta in studies. But other drugs used to help prevent migraine may cause hair loss, including topiramate (Topamax) and divalproex sodium (Depakote).

If you notice hair loss during your treatment with Qulipta, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing it. They may also be able to recommend ways to treat your hair loss, such as with the over-the-counter medication minoxidil (Rogaine).

Will taking Qulipta cause dizziness?

No, dizziness was not a side effect that people taking Qulipta reported in studies. But it may be a side effect of migraine itself. In addition to severe head pain, migraine can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or vision changes.

If you have dizziness while taking Qulipta, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing this symptom and suggest the best way to treat it.

Does Qulipta cause depression or anxiety?

No, neither depression nor anxiety was reported in studies of people taking Qulipta. But some drugs used to prevent migraine, such as divalproex sodium (Depakote), may cause changes in mood, including depression or anxiety.

And you may have an increased risk of depression if you have migraine.

If you notice symptoms of depression or anxiety during your treatment with Qulipta, talk with your doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects Qulipta may cause.

Nausea

You may have nausea from taking Qulipta. It was one of the most common side effects reported in studies of the drug. And you may be at an increased risk of this side effect if you’re taking a higher dose of Qulipta.

Nausea may also be a migraine symptom. So if you’re unsure about what’s causing your nausea, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine the cause.

What might help

If you have nausea while taking Qulipta, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to reduce this side effect. In some cases, they may recommend taking a lower dose of Qulipta to see if this reduces your nausea.

Nausea may reduce with time, but if it becomes intolerable, your doctor may consider other migraine treatment options for you.

Constipation

Constipation was one of the most common side effects reported in Qulipta studies. You may be constipated if you have:

  • painful bowel movements
  • bloating
  • abdominal pain
  • difficulty going to the restroom

What may help

If you have constipation that’s severe or bothersome, talk with your doctor. They’ll be able to suggest ways to reduce this side effect. For example, they may recommend increasing your water consumption or using an over-the-counter medication, such as MiraLax (polyethylene glycol).

Increased liver enzymes

Although it wasn’t common, it’s possible to develop an increase in the level of liver enzymes in your blood during Qulipta treatment. This increase in liver enzymes may indicate liver problems. Because of this, it’s important to tell your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms of liver damage, including:

In studies, liver enzyme levels returned to normal levels about 8 weeks after people stopped Qulipta.

What might help

In studies of Qulipta, people with increased liver enzymes did not report liver problem symptoms. So your doctor may check your blood levels during your treatment.

If you do develop symptoms of liver damage, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely do a blood test to see if your symptoms are related to your liver enzymes. If they find that your liver enzyme levels have increased, they may have you stop taking Qulipta and try a different migraine prevention treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Qulipta treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful 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 the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

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

Qulipta 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 Qulipta is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Qulipta. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Alcohol and Qulipta

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Qulipta. But drinking alcohol while you’re taking Qulipta may cause your side effects to worsen. For example, both alcohol and Qulipta can cause nausea, so both together may increase your risk of this side effect.

In addition, alcohol may be a migraine trigger for some people (meaning alcohol may cause migraine episodes).

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the safety of drinking it during your treatment with Qulipta. You can also learn more about Qulipta’s interactions.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Qulipta

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Qulipta during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. At this time, no studies have been done involving pregnant people to see whether the drug is safe. There are also no studies to determine if Qulipta may be present in human breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a breastfeeding child.

If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Qulipta. They can help you determine if it may be safe for you.

Q:

If I’m taking another medication to treat migraine, am I at an increased risk of side effects from Qulipta?

Anonymous

A:

It’s possible, but it depends on the other drug you’re taking and the possible side effects it may cause.

Qulipta may cause side effects such as nausea, constipation, and fatigue. So if your migraine treatment also causes these symptoms, your risk of side effects may be increased if you take Qulipta along with it.

If you’re concerned about side effects you may have during your treatment with Qulipta, talk with your doctor.

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.