Which agent is a CGRP receptor antagonist approved for acute migraine treatment?

Which agent is a CGRP receptor antagonist approved for acute migraine treatment?

• A. Erenumab
• B. Fremanezumab
• C. Ubrogepant
• D. Dihydroergotamine

Answer: (C)

Blocking CGRP signaling is a strategy for aborting an acute migraine attack. CGRP is released during migraine and promotes vasodilation and pain signaling in the trigeminal system. Gepants are small-molecule antagonists that bind the CGRP receptor, preventing CGRP from triggering those effects and providing relief when taken at the onset of a migraine. Ubrogepant is the agent in this set that fits as a CGRP receptor antagonist approved for acute treatment. It directly targets the CGRP receptor to halt the acute processes of migraine, and is used for immediate relief. The other options represent different approaches: monoclonal antibodies like the CGRP receptor–targeting one or CGRP-ligand–targeting antibodies are used mainly for prevention, not acute treatment; and dihydroergotamine is an ergot alkaloid with a distinct vasoconstrictive mechanism, not a CGRP receptor antagonist.

Blocking CGRP signaling is a strategy for aborting an acute migraine attack. CGRP is released during migraine and promotes vasodilation and pain signaling in the trigeminal system. Gepants are small-molecule antagonists that bind the CGRP receptor, preventing CGRP from triggering those effects and providing relief when taken at the onset of a migraine.

Ubrogepant is the agent in this set that fits as a CGRP receptor antagonist approved for acute treatment. It directly targets the CGRP receptor to halt the acute processes of migraine, and is used for immediate relief. The other options represent different approaches: monoclonal antibodies like the CGRP receptor–targeting one or CGRP-ligand–targeting antibodies are used mainly for prevention, not acute treatment; and dihydroergotamine is an ergot alkaloid with a distinct vasoconstrictive mechanism, not a CGRP receptor antagonist.