Maxalt is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Migraine Headache. Maxalt may be used alone or with other medications.

General Information

Maxalt (Rizatriptan) is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headache, pain, and other migraine symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/sound). Prompt treatment helps you return to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Rizatriptan belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans. It affects a certain natural substance (serotonin) that causes narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. It may also relieve pain by affecting certain nerves in the brain.Rizatriptan does not prevent future migraines or lessen how often you get migraine attacks.

How does Maxalt work?

Maxalt (rizatriptan) works by constricting the blood vessels around the brain and is used to help treat migraine headache pain that is already in process. It also helps to block nerve pain messages. Maxalt is not used to prevent a migraine headache or reduce the number of migraine headaches you may have over the long-term.

Maxalt belongs to the "triptan" class of medicines commonly used in migraine treatment. It strongly binds to serotonin receptors (5HT1B/1D) in the blood vessels and nerves of the brain. Serotonin 5-HT receptor agonists (triptans) are used early in a migraine headache to stop the migraine pain.

Maxalt is used in migraines that occur with or without aura in adults and children 6 to 17 years of age. An aura is a warning symptom that some people have before or during a migraine attack. An aura may include flashing lights or bright spots, a tingling sensation in the arms or legs, trouble talking, or hearing noises. Not everyone with a migraine has an aura.

Other migraine symptoms can include debilitating throbbing pain around the eyes and temples that can last for hours, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and a greater sensitivity to light and sound.

Does Maxalt come as a generic?

Yes, Maxalt comes in a generic or brand name option at the pharmacy. Maxalt is available as a 10-mg oral tablet or as a 10-mg orally-disintegrating tablet called Maxalt-MLT. The 5 mg tablets are available in the generic, but the brand name 5 mg tablet is no longer commercially available.

Dosage and Administration

Usual Adult Dose for Migraine:

Use only after a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established

Initial dose: 5 mg or 10 mg orally, once
-Provided there has been a response to first dose, a second dose may be administered at least 2 hours later if migraine returns.
Maximum dose: 30 mg in a 24-hour period

Comments:
-The 10 mg dose may provide greater effect, however there may be a greater risk of adverse reactions.
-This drug should not be used to treat basilar or hemiplegic migraines because these patients are at a greater risk of stroke.
-The safety of treating an average of 4 or more migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established; the effectiveness of a second dose or subsequent doses has not been established in placebo-controlled trials.

Use: For the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Migraine:

Use only after a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established

6 years or older and weight less than 40 kg:
-Initial dose: 5 mg orally once

6 years or older and weight 40 kg or greater:
-Initial dose: 10 mg orally once

Maximum: 1 dose in any 24-hour period

Comments:
-This drug should not be used to treat basilar or hemiplegic migraines because these patients are at a greater risk of stroke.
-The safety of treating an average of 4 or more migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established; the safety and effectiveness of more than 1 dose within 24 hours has not been established.

Use: For the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in patients 6 years or older.

How should I take?

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking rizatriptan and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, at the first sign of a migraine. It may be taken with or without food, but may work faster when it is taken on an empty stomach. The dosage is based on your medical condition, age, response to treatment, and other drugs you may be taking. For children, the dosage is also based on weight. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). If there is no improvement in your symptoms, do not take more doses of this medication before talking to your doctor. If your symptoms are only partly relieved, or if your headache comes back, adults may take another dose at least 2 hours after the first dose. Children should not take more than one dose, or 5 milligrams in a 24-hour period. For adults, the US manufacturer recommends a maximum dose of 30 milligrams in a 24-hour period. The Canadian manufacturer recommends a maximum dose of 20 milligrams (for adults) in a 24-hour period. If you have a higher risk for heart problems (see Precautions), your doctor may perform a heart exam before you start taking rizatriptan. He/she may also direct you to take your first dose of this medication in the office/clinic to monitor for serious side effects (such as chest pain). Talk to your doctor for details. If you are using drugs for migraine attacks on 10 or more days each month, the drugs may actually make your headaches worse (medication overuse headache). Do not use medications more often or for longer than directed. Tell your doctor if you need to use this medication more often, or if the medication is not working as well, or if your headaches get worse.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Maxalt is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using Maxalt.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using Maxalt?

Do not take Maxalt within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

Maxalt may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Maxalt side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Maxalt: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Maxalt and call your doctor at once if you have:

Common Maxalt side effects may include:

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.

Warnings

You should not use Maxalt if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body. Maxalt should not be taken within 24 hours before or after using certain migraine headache medicines. Consult your pharmacist to ensure you are not taking Maxalt with these medicines. Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine. Also tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), venlafaxine (Effexor), or vilazodone (Viibryd). 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 rizatriptan in 24 hours.

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