Common uses

Rizatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Rizatriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.

Before using

Tell your doctor:
- about any past or present medical problems
- about any history of high blood pressure, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart disease, or stroke
- about any risk factors for heart disease or blood vessel disease (high blood pressure or diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, family history of heart disease or blood vessel disease, post menopausal, male over 40)
- about any allergies you have or have had
- if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
- if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
- about all drugs you are taking or plan to take, including those obtained without a prescription, and
those you normally take for a migraine.

Directions

Take this medication by mouth at the first sign of a migraine, or as directed by your doctor. It may be taken with or without food, although faster relief may occur when it is taken on an empty stomach. Do not take rizatriptan to prevent a migraine. If there is no improvement in your symptoms, do not take any more doses of this medication before talking to your doctor.

Cautions

Maxalt can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Although these side effects are rare, do not use this medication if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.
Do not use Maxalt if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days. Do not use Maxalt within 24 hours after taking almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine). Before taking Maxalt, tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
Maxalt will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
After taking a Maxalt tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 30 mg of Maxalt in 24 hours.

Possible side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Maxalt and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• fast heart rate, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea; or
• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.
Less serious side effects may include:
• dry mouth, upset stomach;
• mild headache (not a migraine);
• feeling too warm or too cold;
• tremors, confusion;
• warmth, redness, or tingling under your skin;
• feeling of pain or pressure in your neck and throat; or
• weakness, dizziness, sleepiness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

If you take too much

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
• Symptoms of Maxalt overdose may include:
Dizziness, fainting, heart and blood vessel problems, high blood pressure, loss of bowel and bladder control, slow heartbeat, vomiting

Additional information

Maxalt should be used only for typical migraine headaches. It is not recommended for any other type of headache, or for unusual types of migraine such as hemiplegic or basilar migraine.

Drug interactions

The following medications may affect the way rizatriptan works or increase the risk of side effects:
• ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medication (e.g., dihydroergotamine or methysergide) if taken at the same time or within the previous 24 hours
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors if taken at the same time or within 14 days of taking rizatriptan (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, moclobemide)
• other 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists (e.g., sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan) if taken at the same time or within the previous 24 hours
• propranolol
• certain types of antidepressant medications known as SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline)
• sibutramine
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.