As you undoubtedly know, most drugs are developed for one specific purpose only to learn during clinical trials they have another equally important function. This is definitely true of the insanely popular GLP-1 receptor agonist drug class that was developed for the treatment of diabetes, but was found to be a powerful appetite suppressant that caused a 20%-25% weight loss among users. And years ago when sildenafil was being tested for the treatment of coronary disease, it was found to have a profound effect on male sexual dysfunction and became the most widely known drug for erectile dysfunction, Viagra.
Well, Abbvie pharmaceuticals has a relatively new drug for the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches called atogepant that has been shown to be an effective appetite suppressant which has very gradually generated a 5% to 10% weight loss after one year in study patients. The trade name is Qulipta, and it’s taken orally once a day.
Qulipta’s main adverse effects are nausea, constipation, fatigue, and appetite suppression. Investigations have determined weight loss is not caused by the GI side effects, but more likely due to blocking the receptors responsible for causing inflammation and blood vessel dilatation so intimately involved in migraine headaches. This is thought to be responsible for the weight loss seen with Qulipta.
Qulipta is not intended to be prescribed for weight loss and should not be. Weight loss is not its approved indication. Rather it is migraine prophylaxis, and it appears to be better at it than topiramate. It’s advantage is it is a once-daily oral treatment, and the disadvantage is weight loss is slow and steady, but much less than achieved by GLP-1’s.
Reference: medscape.com Unexpected upside to Migraine Prevention Drug, 2026 October 2.
