Rizatriptan (By mouth)

rye-za-TRIP-tan

Treats migraines.

Drug classes

Antimigraine (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Rizatriptan is used to treat acute migraine headaches in adults and children 6 years of age and older. It is not used to prevent migraine headaches and is not used for cluster headaches. Rizatriptan works in the brain to relieve the pain from migraine headaches. It belongs to the group of medicines called triptans.

Many people find that their headaches go away completely after they take rizatriptan. Other people find that their headaches are much less painful, and that they are able to go back to their normal activities even though their headaches are not completely gone. Rizatriptan often relieves other symptoms that occur together with a migraine headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.

Rizatriptan is not an ordinary pain reliever. It will not relieve any kind of pain other than migraine headaches. This medicine is usually used for people whose headaches are not relieved by acetaminophen, aspirin, or other pain relievers.

Rizatriptan has caused serious side effects in some people, especially people who have heart or blood vessel disease. Be sure that you discuss with your doctor the risks of using this medicine as well as the benefits that it can do.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet, Dissolving Tablet

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed. Use rizatriptan only when you have a migraine.

If your headache improves but then comes back, you may take a second dose. Wait at least 2 hours before you take the second dose. Call your doctor if your headache does not improve at all after the first dose.

Tablet: Swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the disintegrating tablet. Peel back the foil from the blister pack, then remove the tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet in your mouth. After it has melted, swallow or take a drink of water.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use this medicine if you have taken another triptan or ergot medicine for a migraine in the past 24 hours (including almotriptan, dihydroergotamine, eletriptan, ergotamine, frovatriptan, methysergide, naratriptan, sumatriptan, or zolmitriptan).

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks.

Some medicines can affect how rizatriptan works. Tell your doctor if you are using propranolol or medicine to treat depression.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to rizatriptan, or if you have heart disease, angina, ischemic bowel disease, peripheral vascular disease, or a history of heart attack, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, phenylketonuria (PKU), or a family history of heart disease, heart attack, blood circulation problems, or stroke. Tell your doctor if you smoke.

This medicine may cause the following problems:

Increased risk for heart rhythm problems, heart attack, or stroke Spasms in the blood vessels Serotonin syndrome (more likely if used with certain other medicines) High blood pressure

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Your headaches may become worse if you use headache medicine for 10 or more days per month. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Anxiety, restlessness, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there

Chest pain, trouble breathing, unusual sweating, faintness

Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Numbness or coldness in your hands or feet

Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, problems with vision, speech, or walking

Severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting

Tightness or discomfort in your chest, neck, or jaw

Vision loss or vision changes that are not part of a usual migraine

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Drowsiness, tiredness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT

There may be other brand names for this medicine.