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Nurtec ODT is the brand name for rimegepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist. It comes as a 75 mg orally disintegrating tablet that you place on or under your tongue, where it dissolves without water.

It is one of the newer migraine medicines that can both stop an attack and help prevent future ones. Because it can be used for both purposes, many people naturally ask, “Can I take Nurtec every day?”

Here’s what you need to know.

Key Takeaways

  • The medication can be taken on consecutive days for attacks, but both the FDA and long-term data support a maximum of one dose per day and generally no more than 18 doses per month.
  • Using Nurtec every day usually signals uncontrolled migraine, and you may benefit more from improved prevention than from increasing acute dosing.
  • Most clinical trials examined intermittent or every-other-day schedules, and once-daily dosing has not been studied enough to confirm long-term safety.
  • Doctors prefer not to encourage daily Nurtec use because frequent use of acute migraine medicines can trigger medication-overuse headaches.

Is it safe to take Nurtec every day?

Not as a daily long-term routine, unless directed by your neurologist.

If you’re taking Nurtec for a migraine attack:

    • Take one 75 mg tablet when a migraine starts.
    • Don’t take more than one tablet in 24 hours.
    • It is not known if it is safe to use more than 18 tablets in a month.

So yes, if your migraines show up on back-to-back days, it’s fine to take Nurtec on each of those days. Its FDA label doesn’t forbid that. The only rule is one tablet per day, and ideally not more than 18 doses in 30 days because that hasn’t been well studied yet.

If you’re taking Nurtec to prevent migraines, the approved dose is 75 mg taken orally every other day, not daily.

Why is there a limit on how much Nurtec can be taken daily?

There are a few reasons for this cautious limit:

1. Liver safety

Earlier drugs in the CGRP family had some issues with liver toxicity, so the FDA is extra careful, even though rimegepant (Nurtec) itself hasn’t shown those same problems. Long-term studies so far look reassuring, with no significant liver enzyme elevations at approved doses.

However, Nurtec should be avoided in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C).

2. Avoiding medication-overuse headaches

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) happens when someone with an existing headache or migraine condition starts getting headaches more often because they’re using acute pain medicines too frequently.

According to the ICHD-3 guidelines, MOH is diagnosed when:

    • Headaches occur 15 or more days per month,
    • The person has been overusing pain or migraine medicines for more than 3 months, and
    • The headaches aren’t better explained by another diagnosis.

The headache usually feels just like a usual migraine or tension-type headache, which is why it can be hard to recognize.

So far, Nurtec hasn’t shown a clear link to MOH, even with more frequent use, but the research isn’t as mature as it is for older migraine medicines. That means doctors and regulators stay cautious.

3. Drug interactions and buildup

Nurtec is broken down in the body through CYP3A4 and P-gp pathways, which can be slowed down by certain medications. This mainly applies to strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors and strong P-gp inhibitors, such as some antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals.

If you’re taking one of those medications, Nurtec can stay in your system longer than expected. In that specific situation, the FDA label recommends waiting at least 48 hours before taking another dose of Nurtec to avoid excessive buildup.

Preventing migraine without exceeding Nurtec limits

Seniro man pouring himself a glassof water with a glass pitcher

If you are tempted to take Nurtec almost every day, that usually means your migraine burden is high. Instead of simply increasing your monthly Nurtec count, most guidelines suggest a more complete prevention plan.

Here are practical steps to help you use Nurtec safely and still improve control.

1. Track your monthly doses

Simple tracking ideas:

    • Mark each Nurtec dose on a calendar
    • Use your phone’s notes app or a migraine tracking app
    • At the end of each week, count how many tablets you used

If you are on the every-other-day preventive schedule, you already use about 15 doses per month. That leaves only a few extra doses for severe attacks, and you must plan those together with your clinician.

If you are using Nurtec only as needed, ask yourself:

    • “How many days this month did I reach for Nurtec?”
    • “Am I often approaching or passing 10 to 15 doses per month?”

If yes, it may be time to discuss stronger preventive approaches.

2. Learn your early attack signs and common triggers

Catching a migraine early can make a single Nurtec tablet more effective, and may avoid repeated attacks that tempt you to use it day after day.

Many patients notice:

    • Visual changes or aura
    • Yawning, mood changes, or neck stiffness
    • Sensitivity to light, sound, or certain smells
    • Food cravings or changes in appetite

Some people also find that certain foods bring on attacks. One popular concept is the “Five C’s” of migraine trigger foods:

    • Cheese
    • Chocolate
    • Coffee
    • Cola drinks
    • Citrus fruits

Not everyone reacts to these, and research shows that food triggers vary widely, but they provide a helpful starting point for a personal trigger diary.

Practical tips:

    • Keep a brief diary of foods, sleep, stress, hormones, and attacks.
    • Use that diary to time your Nurtec dose at the first hint of a pattern, instead of waiting until pain is severe.
    • Work with a clinician or dietitian before making very strict diet changes, since skipping meals and under-eating can also trigger migraine.

3. Use a “multimodal” prevention strategy

Modern migraine guidelines emphasize using more than one tool. Nurtec can be one piece, but other preventives often reduce how often you need it.

Evidence-based preventive options include:

  • CGRP monoclonal antibodies
        • Erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, eptinezumab
        • These target CGRP or its receptor and have proven benefit for episodic and chronic migraine.
  • Classic oral preventives
        • Beta blockers such as propranolol or metoprolol
        • Antiepileptics such as topiramate or divalproex (valproic acid, with strong pregnancy cautions)
        • Certain antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or venlafaxine, in selected patients
  • OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) for chronic migraine
        • Proven helpful in people with 15 or more headache days per month, especially when combined with other preventives in some cases.
  • Other gepants used purely as oral preventives
        • Atogepant is taken once daily as a preventive and is different from rimegepant in its approved use.

Alongside medication, guidelines also recommend:

    • Regular sleep and meal patterns
    • Hydration and moderated caffeine intake
    • Stress management, biofeedback, or cognitive-behavioral strategies
    • Gentle exercise adapted to your tolerance 

When these pieces work together, many people find they need Nurtec less often, so they stay comfortably under the monthly limit.

4. Discuss alternative preventives with your clinician

If you notice any of the following:

    • You use Nurtec more than about 15 times a month
    • You often run out of your monthly supply early
    • You feel anxious about exceeding 18 doses

This is a strong sign that your treatment plan needs adjustment.

Show your clinician:

    • A 1-3 month migraine diary
    • The exact number of Nurtec tablets you used each month
    • Any other acute medicines you used, such as triptans or NSAIDs

Most specialists would consider increasing preventive therapy rather than simply permitting you to use Nurtec every day.

When should you call your doctor?

While serious reactions are rare, you should seek medical advice promptly if you:

    • Develop rash, shortness of breath, swelling of the face or tongue, or difficulty breathing
    • Notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or unexplained fatigue, which may suggest liver issues
    • Have persistent nausea, abdominal pain, or unusual bruising
    • Are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, and currently rely heavily on Nurtec

Contact your clinician if you notice that:

    • Your migraine attacks are getting more frequent despite treatment.
    • You feel you “cannot function” without taking Nurtec on many days of the month.
    • You often combine Nurtec with multiple other acute medicines in the same week.

These patterns may indicate evolving chronic migraine or medication-overuse problems that require a broader strategy.

Bottom line

Nurtec can treat attacks and help prevent migraine, but it is not meant to be taken every day. The FDA-approved schedule is one tablet as needed for attacks and every other day for prevention, with a limit of 18 tablets per month.

If you find yourself needing Nurtec on many days of the month, it is usually a sign that you may need a stronger or additional preventive treatment. Work with your healthcare provider to review your migraine pattern and create a plan that keeps you safe and well within recommended limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nurtec is not commonly associated with sleepiness. Most clinical trials did not show drowsiness as a frequent side effect. If you feel unusually tired after taking it, speak with your healthcare provider.

Yes, Nurtec is FDA-approved to prevent episodic migraine, taken every other day.

There is no known harmful interaction between naproxen and Nurtec. Many clinicians allow them to be used together for severe attacks, but always follow your provider’s guidance.

Nurtec blocks CGRP receptors, which are involved in transmitting migraine-related pain signals. Blocking this pathway helps reduce pain and associated migraine symptoms.

Contact your healthcare provider or local poison control center for advice. The label does not recommend more than one tablet in 24 hours. Depending on your other conditions and medicines, your provider may choose to monitor you or arrange lab tests.

Sources

Nurtec Official Website. https://www.nurtec.com/

Edvinsson, L. (2024). Rimegepant for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine: a narrative review of the evidence. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 24(12), 1141–1155. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2024.2434079

Blair, H. A. (2023). Rimegepant: A review in the acute treatment and preventive treatment of migraine. CNS Drugs, 37(3), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-023-00988-8

Esteves-Mesquita, V., Fernández-Cardero, Á., Sarriá, B., & Martín-Cabrejas, I. (2025). An Assessment of the Dietary Habits of Individuals with Migraine Living in Spain: An Exploratory Observational Cross-Sectional Pilot Study. Nutrients, 17(4), 686. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040686

Fischer, M. A., & Jan, A. (2023, August 22). Medication-Overuse headache. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538150/