Which of the following statements regarding Rimegepant is correct?

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2025

Explanation

Rimegepant is a medication approved by the FDA for the acute treatment of migraine attacks.
It is classified as a first-tier option for patients who have failed simple analgesics or NSAIDs.
In addition to acute treatment, Rimegepant is also approved for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine.
Its role in acute management is to stop a migraine attack after it has started.

Option A: Rimegepant is administered orally as an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), not subcutaneously.
Option C: Rimegepant is a CGRP receptor antagonist, meaning it blocks the receptor.
Option D: A major advantage of Rimegepant and other gepants is that they do not cause vasoconstriction.

Visual 1: Diagram - Illustrating the mechanism of action of CGRP antagonists. The visual should show the CGRP molecule being blocked from binding to its receptor on the trigeminal nerve, thereby preventing pain signal transmission.
Visual 2: Table - A comparison table contrasting Gepants (Rimegepant), Triptans (Sumatriptan), and Ditans (Lasmiditan) based on mechanism, vascular effects, and key side effects.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology of Migraine Medications as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must educate patients on the correct administration of Rimegepant ODT: place it on or under the tongue and allow it to dissolve without water.
A key nursing assessment is to identify patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (e.g., ischemic heart disease, stroke) who are not suitable candidates for triptans. Rimegepant offers a safer alternative for these patients.
What if? If a patient with uncontrolled hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction presents with an acute migraine, a triptan like sumatriptan would be contraindicated. The nurse should anticipate the physician prescribing a non-vasoconstrictive agent like Rimegepant or Lasmiditan.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the drug in question: Rimegepant. Recognize it as a modern migraine medication.
Next, analyze each option by recalling or looking up the key pharmacological properties of the drug: indication, mechanism of action, route of administration, and side effects/contraindications.
Evaluate Option A (Route): Is it subcutaneous? Recall that Rimegepant is an oral tablet.
Evaluate Option B (Indication): Is it for acute migraine? Yes, this is its primary use.
Evaluate Option C (Mechanism): Is it an agonist? No, 'gepants' are known as CGRP receptor antagonists.
Evaluate Option D (Vascular Effect): Does it cause vasoconstriction? No, its main advantage over triptans is the lack of this effect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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