Ubrogepant During Prodromal Phase of Migraine Eases Symptoms

TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Ubrogepant during the prodromal phase of migraine may alleviate common prodromal symptoms, according to a study published online May 12 in Nature Medicine.

Peter J. Goadsby, M.B.B.S., M.D., Ph.D., from King”s College London, and colleagues conducted a phase 3, placebo-controlled trial to examine whether ubrogepant 100 mg dosed during the premonitory (prodromal) phase of migraine prevented headache development and resolved prodromal symptoms. Qualifying prodromal events were defined as attacks with symptoms in which the patient was confident that headache would occur within one to six hours. The efficacy analysis population included 477 patients.

The researchers found that absence of photophobia at two hours postdose occurred in 19.5 and 12.5 percent of ubrogepant- and placebo-treated events, respectively (odds ratio, 1.72). At three hours postdose, absence of fatigue occurred in 27.3 and 16.8 percent, and absence of neck pain occurred in 28.9 and 15.9 percent of events, respectively (odds ratios, 1.85 and 2.04, respectively). Absence of phonophobia occurred in 50.7 and 35.8 percent of events at four hours postdose (odds ratio, 1.97); and at 24 hours post-dose, absence of dizziness occurred in 88.5 and 82.3 percent of events (odds ratio, 1.82). Absence of difficulty concentrating occurred in 8.7 and 2.1 percent of events at one and six hours postdose, while absence of difficulty thinking occurred in 56.9 and 41.8 percent of events (odds ratios, 4.26 and 2.05, respectively).

“Ubrogepant 100 mg, when administered in the premonitory (prodromal) phase of migraine, before a headache has commenced, may treat symptoms such as photophobia, phonophobia, and cognitive dysfunction,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, which manufactures ubrogepant and funded the study.

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