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Brand Names: Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT

Generic Name: rizatriptan (Pronunciation: RYE za TRIP tan)

• What is rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• What are the possible side effects of rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• What is the most important information I should know about rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• How should I use rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Maxalt)?
• What happens if I overdose (Maxalt)?
• What should I avoid while using rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• What other drugs will affect rizatriptan (Maxalt)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is rizatriptan (Maxalt)?

Rizatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Rizatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Rizatriptan is used to treat migraine headaches.

Rizatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Rizatriptan should not be used to treat common tension headaches or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

Rizatriptan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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

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 balance;
• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes; or
• (if you are also taking an antidepressant) - agitation, high fever, sweating, fast or pounding heartbeats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of balance or coordination, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, fainting.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dry mouth, mild nausea;
• feeling of pain or tightness in your jaw, neck, or throat;
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
• dizziness, drowsiness, weakness; or
• mild tingly feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about rizatriptan (Maxalt)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to rizatriptan, or if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.

Do not use rizatriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine), or methysergide (Sansert).

Do not use rizatriptan 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.

Before taking rizatriptan, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Before taking rizatriptan, 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).

Rizatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

After taking a rizatriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 30 mg of rizatriptan in 24 hours.