Nurtec: Possible side effect?
I just started Nurtec as a preventative. Suddenly I am suffering from constipation. I find nothing online that supports that as a side effect. Wondering if anyone else has had this. My husband thinks it's my use of powdered collagen which I've used for a year. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Hi there- thanks so much for posting this important question. While there may not be a lot of information linking Nurtec to constipation, there's a lot of information coming in regarding CGRPs (of which Nurtec is one), in general, causing constipation. As these are all fairly new drugs, it could be that we haven't had enough time to hear about the side effects of each specific drug yet. Still, while CGRPs are known to have relatively few side effects, many of the ones that ARE reported have to do with the gut (stomach pain, constipation): https://migraine.com/migraine-symptoms/diarrhea-and-constipation. And: https://migraine.com/living-migraine/new-treatment-experiences-no-success. These resources will give some information on the topic but we'd suggest if it's an issue, it's worth discussing with your doctor. There are a number of migraine treatments that cause constipation so there are discussions on how to manage that side effect. One approach to managing constipation is a magnesium supplement (magnesium can be helpful for migraine anyway) called Natural Calm. Might be worth looking into. Thinking of you- Warmly- Holly -migraine.com team. Thank u for the response. I do take Magnesium Glycinate Lysinate which is supposedly the most effective for migraines, clearly not working for gut health. I'll be curious to see if anyone else chimes in about their CGRP causing this. Thx!
Good to hear you're already taking magnesium. If you skim down this link (which shows when constipation was mentioned on our site) you'll see that the majority of times it is mentioned is in relation to CGRP drugs: https://migraine.com/search?s=constipation. Warmly- Holly -migraine.com team 
, my husband takes magnesium glycinate every day at 400mg as this form of magnesium helps calm his nervous system and eases migraine pain. He also takes magnesium L-threonate to help with brain fog at 200mg daily. For him, this counteracts the majority of constipation he gets from taking CGRP antagonists. As for me, I have to take magnesium citrate as this has a more laxative type effect at 400mg daily. As with so many medications and supplements, our bodies metabolize and react to them differently. I am attaching a link to a study that explains the effects of CGRP in our gut that you might find interesting.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.820006/full
The use of magnesium varies based on the elemental form of each type. Some can cross the blood-brain barrier, while others do not. Different forms have different bioavailability in our bodies. Label reading when choosing supplements is also important, as the front label may state a certain milligram, but the supplement facts on the back will indicate the exact specifications and the number of pills needed to get the stated milligrams. A 400mg dose may be included in one pill vs four based on the manufacturer and if fillers or other ingredients are added to the pills. I know this is a lot of information, and you may not find all of it useful but there it is, lol! Have a great day, and thanks for being part of our community. Warmly, Cheryl migraine.com team
- So very sorry to hear you are struggling with this symptom/side effect.
I found some info: A study from 2020 indicates, "Generally, constipation is a significant anti-CGRP side-effect reported in 3–4% of patients [2]. These effects might be exacerbated when patients are using other medications that also affect the gastrointestinal system, such as anti-depressants and morphine receptor-activating drugs."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7077114/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20constipation%20is%20a%20significant,and%20morphine%20receptor%20activating%20drugs.
Hoping you get a chance to speak with your treating physician about this. They may be able to assist you in tackling this annoying symptom. They can evaluate your specific situation, take into account your medical history, and provide appropriate recommendations based on your individual needs.
Sending vibes of healing and better health your way. Rebecca (community moderator)
