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| Generic Name: | rizatriptan |
| Pronounced: | 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 |
|
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have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days;
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have basilar or hemiplegic migraine headaches;
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have had a heart attack, have angina (chest pain), or have
another type of heart disease;
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have had a stroke;
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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 |
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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;
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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. |
What are the possible side effects of rizatriptan? |
|
| If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking rizatriptan and seek
emergency medical attention: |
|
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
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chest pain, tightness, pressure, and/or heaviness;
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neck, throat, or jaw pain, tightness, or pressure; or
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an irregular heartbeat.
|
| Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to
take rizatriptan and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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nausea;
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dry mouth;
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drowsiness or dizziness; or
-
numbness, tingling, flushing, warmth, redness, or heaviness
in a body part.
|
| Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor
about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. |
|
What other drugs will affect 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;
-
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); or
-
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).
|
| Rizatriptan may be dangerous if it is taken with any of the drugs listed above. |
| Before taking rizatriptan, tell your doctor if you are taking |
-
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as fluoxetine
(Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or citalopram (Celexa);
or
-
propranolol (Inderal).
|
| You may not be able to take rizatriptan, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. |
| Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with rizatriptan. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products. |
Where can I get more information? |
| Your pharmacist has more information about rizatriptan written for health professionals that you
may read. |
What does my medication look like? |
| Rizatriptan is available with a prescription under the brand name Maxalt. Other brand or generic
formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication,
especially if it is new to you. |
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Maxalt 5 mg-pale pink, capsule-shaped tablets
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Maxalt 10 mg-pale pink, capsule-shaped tablets
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Maxalt-MLT Orally Disintegrating Tablets 5 mg-white,
round tablets
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Maxalt-MLT Orally Disintegrating Tablets 10 mg-white,
round tablets
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| Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your
medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner
Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee
is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time
sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare
practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does
not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless
specifically indicated otherwise.
Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource
designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their
patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to,
and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug
combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug
combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum
does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered
with the aid of information Multum provides.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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