Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr) is a prescription drug that’s used to prevent migraine attacks in adults. Vyepti can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include allergic reaction and nose or throat irritation.

Vyepti is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from living cells. A healthcare professional will administer Vyepti as an intravenous (IV) infusion. This is an injection that’s given slowly into a vein.

For more information about Vyepti, see this in-depth article.

Although side effects aren’t common with Vyepti infusions, some people may experience mild or serious side effects (also called adverse effects). Keep reading to learn more.

Although side effects from Vyepti aren’t common, some people may have them. Side effects more commonly experienced during Vyepti treatment include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Vyepti include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Vyepti unless your doctor recommends it.

Vyepti may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Vyepti prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Vyepti, visit MedWatch.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Vyepti include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

If you develop serious side effects during Vyepti treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Vyepti’s side effects.

Does Vyepti cause weight gain?

No. Weight gain wasn’t reported in studies of Vyepti, which were up to 12 months long.

If you have questions about weight gain since starting Vyepti treatment, talk with your doctor. They can help you identify other causes and recommend ways to maintain a moderate weight.

Can Vyepti cause anaphylaxis?

It’s possible. Anaphylaxis is a serious type of allergic reaction that can occur with any medication.

Studies of Vyepti did not report anaphylaxis occurring in people who received the drug. However, there were reports of some people experiencing this side effect after the drug became available on the market. But it’s unclear how often anaphylaxis occurred or whether Vyepti was the cause.

A healthcare professional will give you Vyepti as an intravenous (IV) infusion at a doctor’s office or clinic. If you start to have symptoms of an allergic reaction during an infusion, they’ll stop the infusion. They’ll likely also treat your symptoms.

Is it painful to receive an infusion of Vyepti?

Vyepti is given as an IV infusion, which is an injection into a vein that’s given over a period of time. As with any injection, you may feel a very quick “pinch” of pain when a healthcare professional inserts the needle.

Vyepti infusions are given over 30 minutes. You should not feel any pain during the infusion.

What are the long-term side effects of Vyepti treatment?

So far, no long-term side effects have been reported with Vyepti in the drug’s studies. (Vyepti studies were up to 12 months long.) Nor have any long-term side effects been reported since the drug became available on the market.

If you have questions about long-term side effects of Vyepti, talk with your doctor. They can help you consider the pros and cons to determine whether the drug is right for you.

Learn more about some of the side effects Vyepti may cause.

Nose or throat symptoms

Nasopharyngitis (irritation of the nose or throat) is a possible side effect of Vyepti treatment. Nasopharyngitis is another name for the common cold.

In studies of Vyepti, people took 100 milligrams (mg) of the drug, 300 mg of the drug, or a placebo. (A placebo is a treatment that contains no active ingredient. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Nose or throat symptoms were equally common among people receiving 100 mg of Vyepti or the placebo. These symptoms occurred slightly more often in people who received 300 mg of Vyepti than those who received 100 mg or a placebo.

Common cold symptoms include:

What might help

Common cold symptoms usually go away on their own without treatment. It’s often helpful to get extra rest and drink more fluids.

To ease nose or throat symptoms, consider over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. These may include:

If your nose or throat symptoms don’t go away or become bothersome, talk with your doctor. They may want to check for other causes or recommend other treatments.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Vyepti can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, tell your doctor right away. To manage symptoms, they may suggest an OTC antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Or they may recommend a product that you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Vyepti, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Vyepti, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Vyepti treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects you’re having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect
  • what your symptoms were from the side effect
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were also taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Vyepti affects you. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Vyepti may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start receiving Vyepti. Below are factors to consider.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vyepti or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vyepti. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol use and Vyepti

Vyepti doesn’t interact with alcohol.

But drinking alcohol can trigger migraine symptoms for some people. Even though Vyepti is used to prevent migraine attacks, it’s a good idea to continue avoiding or limiting things that trigger them.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol during Vyepti treatment, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while receiving Vyepti

It isn’t known whether Vyepti is safe to use during pregnancy. The drug hasn’t been studied during pregnancy.

It also isn’t known whether Vyepti is safe to use while breastfeeding. Studies haven’t looked at whether Vyepti treatment has any effects on breast milk or a child who’s breastfed.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor. They can guide you on how to safely manage migraine episodes during these times.

Side effects aren’t common while receiving Vyepti, but mild or serious side effects are possible.

If you’re curious about Vyepti’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Ask questions to get the answers you need to feel confident about starting treatment to prevent migraine attacks.

Here are a few to get you started:

  • Do my other medications increase my risk of side effects from Vyepti?
  • Does receiving a higher dose of Vyepti (300 mg) cause more side effects than a lower dose?
  • I have a heart condition. Am I at higher risk of side effects from Vyepti?

Q:

Will using Imitrex (sumatriptan), a migraine medication, cause any side effects or interactions with Vyepti?

Anonymous

A:

You can take Imitrex during Vyepti treatment. Imitrex is used to treat migraine symptoms when they happen, while Vyepti is used to prevent migraine attacks.

Taking Imitrex with Vyepti won’t cause a drug interaction. One study evaluated a single dose of Vyepti given with a single dose of Imitrex. There were no changes in the levels of either drug. So you may take Imitrex during Vyepti treatment when you have migraine symptoms, such as headaches.

You might experience side effects from taking Imitrex, most of which are mild. Examples include weakness, dizziness, and tightness in your chest, neck, or jaw. Studies did not look at whether side effects increased when Imitrex and Vyepti were used together.

If you experience side effects that are bothersome or don’t go away, contact your doctor right away.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.