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MAXALT®
(max-awlt) and MAXALT-MLT®
(rizatriptan benzoate) tablets and orally disintegrating tablets

Read this Patient Information before you start taking MAXALT® and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment.

Unless otherwise stated, the information in this Patient Information leaflet applies to both MAXALT Tablets and to MAXALT-MLT^ Orally Disintegrating Tablets.

What is MAXALT?

MAXALT is a prescription medicine that belongs to a class of medicines called Triptans. MAXALT is available as a traditional tablet (MAXALT) and as an orally disintegrating tablet (MAXALT-MLT).

MAXALT and MAXALT-MLT are used to treat migraine attacks with or without aura in adults and in children 6 to 17 years of age.

MAXALT is not to be used to prevent migraine attacks.

MAXALT is not for the treatment of hemiplegic or basilar migraines.

It is not known if MAXALT is safe and effective for the treatment of cluster headaches.

It is not known if taking more than 1 dose of MAXALT in 24 hours is safe and effective in children 6 to 17 years of age.

It is not known if MAXALT is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

Who should not take MAXALT?

Do not take MAXALT if you:

• have or have had heart problems
• have or have had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• have or have had blood vessel problems including ischemic bowel disease
• have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have taken other Triptan medicines in the last 24 hours
• have taken ergot-containing medicines in the last 24 hours
• have hemiplegic or basilar migraines
• take monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor or have taken a MAO inhibitor within the last 2 weeks
• are allergic to rizatriptan benzoate or any of the ingredients in MAXALT. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in MAXALT.

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any of the conditions listed above or if you are not sure if you take any of these medicines.

What should I tell my doctor before taking MAXALT?

Before you take MAXALT, tell your doctor if you:

• have or have had heart problems, high blood pressure, chest pain, or shortness of breath
• have any risk factors for heart problems or blood vessel problems such as: o high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • smoking
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • family history of heart problems
  • you are post menopausal
  • you are a male over 40
• have phenylketonuria (PKU). MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine.
• have kidney or liver problems
• have any other medical condition
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if MAXALT will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking MAXALT, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the pregnancy registry at the Merck National Service Center. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-800-986-8999. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of MAXALT in pregnancy.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if MAXALT passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take MAXALT.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

MAXALT and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. MAXALT may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how MAXALT works.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• propranolol containing medicines such as Inderal®, Inderal® LA, or Innopran® XL
• medicines used to treat mood disorders, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take MAXALT?

• Take MAXALT exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
• Your doctor will tell you how much MAXALT to take and when to take it.
• To take MAXALT-MLT:
  • Leave MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets in the package it comes in until you are ready to take it. When you are ready to take it:
    • Remove the blister from the foil pouch. Do not push the MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablet through the blister.
    • Peel open the blister pack with dry hands and place the MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablet on your tongue. The tablet will dissolve and be swallowed with your saliva. No liquid is needed to take the orally disintegrating tablet.
• If your headache comes back after your first MAXALT dose:
  • For adults: a second dose may be taken 2 hours after the first dose. Do not take more than 30 mg of MAXALT in a 24-hour period (for example, do not take more than 3 10-mg tablets in a 24-hour period).
  • For children 6 to 17 years of age: It is not known if taking more than 1 dose of MAXALT in 24 hours is safe and effective. Talk to your doctor about what to do if your headache does not go away or comes back.
• If you take too much MAXALT, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What should I avoid while taking MAXALT?

MAXALT may cause dizziness, weakness, or fainting. If you have these symptoms, do not drive a car, use machinery, or do anything that needs you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of MAXALT?

MAXALT may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you think you are having any of the serious side effects of MAXALT including:

• heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack may include:
  • chest discomfort in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back
  • chest discomfort that feels like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
  • pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
  • shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
  • breaking out in a cold sweat
  • nausea or vomiting
  • feeling lightheaded
• stroke. Symptoms of a stroke may include the following sudden symptoms:
  • numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body
  • confusion, problems speaking or understanding
  • problems seeing in 1 or both of your eyes
  • problems walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • severe headache with no known cause
• blood vessel problems. Symptoms of blood vessel problems may include:
  • stomach pain
  • bloody diarrhea
  • vision problems
  • coldness and numbness of hands and feet
• serotonin syndrome. A condition called serotonin syndrome can happen when Triptan medicines such as MAXALT are taken with certain other medicines. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include:
  • agitation
  • hallucinations
  • coma
  • fast heartbeat
  • fast changes in your blood pressure
  • increased body temperature
  • muscle spasm
  • loss of coordination
  • nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• increased blood pressure

The most common side effects of MAXALT in adults include:

• feeling sleepy or tired
• pain or pressure in your chest or throat
• dizziness

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

If you take MAXALT too often, this may result in you getting chronic headaches. In such cases, you should contact your doctor, as you may have to stop taking MAXALT.

These are not all the possible side effects of MAXALT. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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

How should I store MAXALT?

• Store MAXALT at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
• Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed.

Keep MAXALT and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about the safe and effective use of MAXALT.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use MAXALT for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give MAXALT to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most important information about MAXALT. If you would like more information, talk to your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about MAXALT that is written for health professionals.

For more information, go to www.maxalt.com or call 1-800-986-8999.

What are the ingredients in MAXALT?

Active ingredient in MAXALT and MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets: rizatriptan benzoate.

Inactive ingredients in MAXALT: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, ferric oxide (red), and magnesium stearate.

Inactive ingredients in MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets: gelatin, mannitol, glycine, aspartame, and peppermint flavor.

MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets contain aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.

Phenylketonurics:

MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets 5-mg contain 1.1 mg of phenylalanine. MAXALT-MLT orally disintegrating tablets 10-mg contain 2.1 mg of phenylalanine.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last reviewed on RxList: 1/5/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.