Maxalt (Rizatriptan Benzoate) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

Pill Identifier Search

May 26, 2012

Maxalt

Prescription Migraine Medications »

Migraine medications overview

Migraine is a serious, potentially life-threatening neurological disease that affects nearly 32 million Americans, the majority of whom are women. The hallmark symptom of migraine is an escalating, often unbearable, debilitating headache that is commonly described as intense throbbing or pulsating pain in one area of the head. The pain may be accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. In some people, migraines are preceded by visual disturbances known as auras that may include flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary blindness.

Migraine medications do not cure migraines. Instead, migraine drugs treat the symptoms using one of two approaches. Some migraine drugs relieve symptoms. Other migraine drugs are used to prevent a migraine attack.

Many migraine sufferers rely on simple pain relievers to get through an attack. These range from over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen to an...

Read the Prescription Migraine Medications article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next »

Maxalt User Reviews >>

Maxalt

View the Headaches and Migraines Slideshow Pictures

A Visual Guide to Migraine Headaches Slideshow Pictures

Headache and Migraine Triggers Slideshow Pictures

Take the Migraines Quiz

font size

MAXALT
(rizatriptan benzoate) Tablets, for Oral Use

MAXALT-MLT
(rizatriptan benzoate) Orally Disintegrating Tablets

DRUG DESCRIPTION

MAXALT contains rizatriptan benzoate, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine_1B/1D (5-HT_1B/1D) receptor agonist.

Rizatriptan benzoate is described chemically as: N,N-dimethyl-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-ethanamine monobenzoate and its structural formula is:

MAXALT
(rizatriptan benzoate) Structural Formula Illustration

Its empirical formula is C₁₅H₁₉N₅•C₇H₆O₂, representing a molecular weight of the free base of 269.4. Rizatriptan benzoate is a white to off-white, crystalline solid that is soluble in water at about 42 mg per mL (expressed as free base) at 25°C.

MAXALT Tablets and MAXALT-MLT Orally Disintegrating Tablets are available for oral administration in strengths of 5 and 10 mg (corresponding to 7.265 mg or 14.53 mg of the benzoate salt, respectively). Each compressed tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, ferric oxide (red), and magnesium stearate.

Each lyophilized orally disintegrating tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: gelatin, mannitol, glycine, aspartame, and peppermint flavor.

What are the possible side effects of rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT)?

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 rizatriptan 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...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Maxalt »