This first section of our medication database entry focuses on basic drug characteristics, uses and benefits, while part two covers side effects, interactions and additional information.
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Maxalt Consumer Information
MAXALT
Generic Name: rizatriptan (rye zah TRIP tin)
Brand Names: Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT
What is the most important information I should know about rizatriptan?
- Do not take rizatriptan if the headache you are experiencing is not like other migraines that you have had.
- Do not take this medication if you have angina (chest pain) or if you have had a heart attack.
- Never take more of this medication than is prescribed by your doctor. If your symptoms are not being treated, contact your doctor.
What is rizatriptan?
- Rizatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing) of arteries and veins that supply blood to your head.
- Rizatriptan is used to treat vascular headaches such as migraine headaches.
- Rizatriptan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rizatriptan?
- Do not take rizatriptan if you
- have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days;
- have basilar or hemiplegic migraine headaches;
- have had a heart attack, have angina (chest pain), or have another type of heart disease;
- have had a stroke;
- have Raynaud's syndrome;
- are experiencing a headache that is not like other migraines that you have had;
- have taken another 5-HT agonist in the last 24 hours-5-HT agonists include almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), and zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT);
- have taken an ergot-based medication within the last 24 hours--ergot-based medicines include methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergostat, Ergomar), dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E., Migranal Nasal Spray), and ergotamine combination products (Cafergot, Wigraine, Cafatine-PB, and others).
- It may be dangerous to take rizatriptan if you have any of the conditions or are taking any of the medications listed above.
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
- have risk factor for heart disease such as high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol (a type of fat), are overweight, diabetes, smoke cigarettes, are postmenopausal, are male and over 40 years of age;
- have liver disease;
- have kidney disease; or
- have seizures or epilepsy.
- You may not be able to take rizatriptan, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
- The Maxalt-MLT orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine. Each 5 mg Maxalt-MLT tablet contains 1.05 mg phenylalanine and each 10 mg Maxalt-MLT tablet contains 2.10 mg phenylalanine. Individuals with phenylketonuria may need to monitor their intake of this additive.
- Rizatriptan is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether rizatriptan will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
- It is not known whether rizatriptan passes into breast milk. Do not take rizatriptan without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
- Rizatriptan has not been approved by the FDA for use by children younger than 18 years of age.
How should I take rizatriptan?
- Take rizatriptan tablets exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Take each oral dose with a full glass of water.
- The orally disintegrating tablets (Maxalt-MLT) do not need to be taken with water or any other liquid. The tablet should be removed from the outer pouch and blister pack with dry hands, immediately before taking the pill. The tablet should then be placed on the tongue, where it will dissolve and be swallowed with the saliva.
- Rizatriptan may be taken with or without food.
- Take one tablet as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine, or at any time during an attack.
- If your symptoms improve only partially, or if they go away and then return, you can take another dose of rizatriptan unless your doctor directs otherwise. The second dose may be taken 2 hours or more after the first one. Never take more than 30 mg in any 24-hour period. If you are also taking propranolol (Inderal), no more than 15 mg should be taken in any 24-hour period, unless specifically directed otherwise by your doctor.
- Store rizatriptan at room temperature away from moisture, heat, light, and the reach of children.
- Throw away any unused medicine on the expiration date.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Since rizatriptan is taken to treat migraine headaches as they occur and not to prevent them, missing a dose is not a problem. Take only the doses you need, according to your doctor's instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention.
- Symptoms of a rizatriptan overdose may include dizziness, sleepiness, a slow heartbeat, and vomiting.
What should I avoid while taking rizatriptan?
- Do not take rizatriptan if the headache you are experiencing is not like other migraines that you have had.
- Never take more of this medication than is prescribed by your doctor.
Please see the end of this document for relevant limitations, full details of our medication information supplier, and revision date or version number.