Qulipta (atogepant) is a brand-name drug prescribed for preventing migraine in adults. Qulipta comes as an oral tablet that’s typically taken once per day. The dosage can vary depending on the type of migraine you are taking the drug to prevent.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qulipta to help prevent migraine episodes caused by episodic migraine or chronic migraine.
Qulipta belongs to a drug class called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists. Qulipta is not available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosages of Qulipta, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Qulipta, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Qulipta provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Qulipta, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about the dosing instructions for Qulipta.
Qulipta form
Qulipta comes as an oral tablet.
Qulipta strengths
Qulipta comes in three strengths:
- 10 milligrams (mg)
- 30 mg
- 60 mg
Typical dosages
Your doctor may start you on a low dosage of Qulipta. Then they can adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following table gives an overview of the dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
| Type of migraine Qulipta is prescribed for | Strength(s) prescribed for this use | Typical dosage |
| episodic migraine | • 10 mg • 30 mg • 60 mg | 10 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg once per day |
| chronic migraine | • 60 mg | 60 mg once per day |
Keep reading for details about Qulipta’s dosages.
Dosage for episodic migraine
The recommended dosage of Qulipta for preventing migraine episodes (or attacks) due to episodic migraine is either 10 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg once per day. This medication dosage is not based on body weight.
Qulipta is not approved for use in children, so there are no dosage recommendations for children, including adolescents and babies.
If you have questions or concerns about your dosage, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best dosage of Qulipta for your episodic migraine.
Dosage for chronic migraine
The recommended dosage of Qulipta for preventing migraine attacks due to chronic migraine is 60 mg once per day. This medication dosage is not based on body weight and is not approved for use in children.
Your doctor will discuss with you their recommended dosage of Qulipta for your chronic migraine.
Long-term treatment
Qulipta is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Qulipta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
The Qulipta dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the severity of your migraine symptoms
- other medications you’re taking
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Qulipta dosage.
Dosage adjustments
It’s possible that your doctor may adjust your dosage of Qulipta based on certain factors. For example, your doctor may decrease your dose of Qulipta if you’re taking certain medications that may interact with the drug. Examples of medications that can interact with Qulipta include:
- Sporanox (itraconazole)
- ketoconazole
- clarithromycin
In addition, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of Qulipta if you have kidney problems. This is because your kidneys help your body to get rid of Qulipta. If they aren’t working well enough to remove the drug, it can build up in your body, and you may experience more side effects. (To learn more about Qulipta’s side effects, see this article.)
Depending on your condition, instead of adjusting your Qulipta dosage, your doctor may recommend another migraine treatment altogether.
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Qulipta.
Is there a starting dose for Qulipta?
Your doctor will determine the best starting dose of Qulipta for you. Your starting dose may depend on many factors, including how severe your condition is, your kidney function, and other medications that you take.
If you have episodic migraine, your doctor may recommend that you start by taking a low dose of 10 milligrams (mg) of Qulipta once per day. Then, they may recommend increasing your dose based on how the drug is working for you. The maximum recommended dose of Qulipta is 60 mg once per day.
If you have chronic migraine, your doctor will likely start you on a dosage of 60 mg of Qulipta once per day. This is the maximum daily dosage of the drug for this type of migraine. Note that if you have a severe kidney problem, your doctor will suggest a different treatment for migraine episodes due to chronic migraine.
If you have questions about your starting dose of Qulipta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is there a dose of Qulipta for me to take to treat a migraine that’s already happening?
No, you should not take Qulipta to treat a migraine that’s already happening. This medication is used to prevent migraine attacks from occurring, not treat migraine attacks in progress. So there’s no recommended dosage for this use.
At this time, it’s not known whether Qulipta may be safe to take to treat migraine attacks that are already occurring. This is why it’s recommended that you take this drug only for its approved use, which is to prevent migraine.
Talk with your doctor about options for treating a migraine attack. They can suggest a different medication to take for this purpose. Examples include Excedrin Migraine (acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine) and prescription drugs such as Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Maxalt (rizatriptan).
Qulipta comes as a tablet that you swallow. You can take your dose with or without food. It may be helpful to take Qulipta around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Qulipta can work effectively.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to make taking tablets easier.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS
If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Qulipta in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss your dose of Qulipta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about when to take your next dose. They may recommend taking your dose as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, they may recommend skipping your missed dose and taking your next dose at your usual time. You should not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you do not take more Qulipta than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Qulipta
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Qulipta. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Qulipta for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Qulipta without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Qulipta that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Qulipta. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Qulipta. For information about other aspects of Qulipta, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Qulipta, see this article. You can also look at the Qulipta prescribing information.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Qulipta and cost, see this article.
- Interactions. For details about what Qulipta interacts with, see this article.
- Details about episodic migraine or chronic migraine. For details about your condition, see our headache and migraine hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.
