Atogepant

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Date: September 2026, Version 1.0

Quick read

Gepants are usually avoided in pregnancy as there are other migraine treatments with more safety data.

What are they?

Gepants (rimegepant [Vydura®] and atogepant [Aquipta®]) treat and prevent migraine by blocking pain signals.

Benefits

What are the benefits of using a gepant in pregnancy?

Gepants can reduce the effects of pain and other unpleasant symptoms of migraine, such as nausea and sensitivity to light. Effective migraine treatment can improve your quality of life.

However, gepants are rarely used in pregnancy as there is not enough information to confirm they are safe for the baby.

Risks

What are the risks of using a gepant in pregnancy?

There is very little information on use of gepants in pregnancy, so it is not known whether there are any risks to the baby.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to taking a gepant in pregnancy?

Yes. Several other treatments can be used for migraine in pregnancy. Paracetamol can be used throughout pregnancy. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, can be used under a doctor’s supervision before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Codeine may be recommended by your doctor, and sumatriptan can also be prescribed during pregnancy.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

Migraines often improve in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, so treatment may no longer be needed. However, if you continue to have migraines in pregnancy, it is important that you discuss this with your doctor. 

Untreated migraines in pregnancy can have a significant impact on your wellbeing. Some studies have suggested that women with untreated migraine may be more likely to have their baby early and have a baby with a low birth weight. Your doctor will help you weigh up the benefits and risks of different treatment options during pregnancy.

Will my baby need extra monitoring? 

Pregnant women in the UK are offered a very detailed anomaly scan, usually at around 20 weeks of pregnancy, as part of their routine antenatal care. If you took a gepant in early pregnancy, you may be offered this scan slightly earlier (from around 16 weeks).

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken a gepant?

We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes a gepant.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.