Various diseases are discovered every day, and not only these but a few existing ones are also becoming more lethal. It is noticed that in most people, migraine is very common.
Most people find it difficult to tolerate migraines, and thanks to our medical field, it has made and introduced some medicines which are very helpful when it comes to treating migraines.
Key Takeaways
- Emgality and Nurtec are medications used to treat migraines but they work differently.
- Emgality is a monthly injection that targets a protein in the brain called CGRP to prevent migraines.
- Nurtec is a tablet taken as needed that blocks a molecule called PACAP, which is involved in the pain response of migraines.
Emgality vs Nurtec
The difference between Emgality and Nurtec is that while Emgality is a preventive treatment, Nurtec is an acute treatment for a person with a migraine problem. They also differ when it comes to their side effects and the things they interact with. Also, they have different doses and chemical names.
Emgality is a type of injection used as a preventive treatment for migraines. Two doses of 120 mg each are given to the person with migraine.
Nurtec is a drug type that comes in pills used for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. Its side effects are not at all dangerous. Only redness or itching can happen.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Emgality | Nurtec |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Preventive treatment of migraine | Acute treatment of migraine |
| Side effects | Nausea and hypersensitivity reactions | injection site reactions |
| Interact with | Not really interact with drugs. | Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, inhibitors of P-GP or BCRP, etc. |
| Dose | 240 mg loading dose | 75 mg taken orally |
| Chemical/drug Name | Rimegepant | Galcanezumab-gnlm |
What is Emgality?
It is a drug used for migraines. It is a type of drug developed in the lab for immune system cells and blocks the activity of certain proteins.
It does not have major side effects in most of the cases, but still, in a few, they can have little serious side effects, which include:
- Swelling under the skin, mainly on eyelids, hands, or feet.
- Swelling on throat, neck, tongue, or mouth.
- Difficulty in breathing.
This fatigue is also a symptom that can be noticed in the person, clinically, it is not categorized as side effects but as a symptom of taking the drug.
Recently it has been recorded that Emgality can cause some long-term effects on the body, although it can’t be said whether these side effects have been due to the drug 100 percent or not. Side effects include:
- Respiratory tract infection
- Back pain
- Sore throat
- Sinus infection
What is Nurtec?
It is a pill used to treat acute migraines in people with or without aura. There are, as such, no major side effects, and in the case of the minor ones, the following things can be done:
- Resting in cool in peace.
- Applying a cold pack on your head.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Drinking ginger/chamomile tea.
- Eating a small snack such as plain toast.
Allergic reactions that can happen are:
- Rash or hives
- Itchiness
- Flushing (warmth or discoloration in your skin)
- Swelling under your skin.
- Swelling of your tongue or mouth.
- Difficulty in breathing
All the above symptoms and allergies can even cause after a few days of taking medicine, as it is not obvious it will take a right after the consumption.
Main Differences Between Emgality and Nurtec
- When it comes to Emgality, 240 mg loading dose (two injections of 120 mg each) is recommended and taken, while a 75 mg dose of Nurtec is recommended to be taken orally.
- Nurtec interacts with different drugs, Nurtec interacts with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, inhibitors of P-gp or BCRP, strong and moderate CYP3A inducers, and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, while Emgality can interact with other drugs, although it is not clear which drug (therefore at least for now it is said that it does not interact with any).
- https://search.proquest.com/openview/aac2f004c1dee70e33434dbebfa76daa/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=136155
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmra010917
- https://search.proquest.com/openview/19d2bd3c43a68ee2337dd75eca9bfd46/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=136155
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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