Rizatriptan belongs to a class of medications known as 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists (also called triptans). It is used to treat migraine headaches with or without aura (warning signs that occur prior to the onset of a migraine headache). The pain of migraine headaches is thought to be caused by dilated blood vessels inside the head. Rizatriptan relieves migraine headaches by constricting these blood vessels.
Rizatriptan is most effective if taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. It is not recommended for other types of headache or for headache prevention. Relief from the pain associated with migraine may occur as quickly as within 30 minutes, with maximum pain relief occurring about 2 hours after taking the medication.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
The recommended adult starting dose of rizatriptan is 5 mg. In some cases, a starting dose of 10 mg may be used. The dose should be taken at the first sign of migraine headache pain. If the migraine headache comes back after being relieved, another dose (5 mg to 10 mg) may be taken no sooner than 2 hours after the first dose was taken.
The maximum recommended single dose is 10 mg. No more than 20 mg of rizatriptan should be taken in any 24-hour period. If your headache pain is different from your usual migraines, call your doctor and do not take rizatriptan. Rizatriptan is not to be used for headache prevention.
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
For the wafer form of rizatriptan, it is not necessary to take the wafer with water. The wafer is packaged in a blister with an outer aluminum pouch. Do not remove the wafer from the package until you are ready to use it. When you are ready, peel open the blister pack with dry hands and place the wafer on your tongue. Allow the wafer to dissolve on your tongue, and swallow.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Each white to off-white, round, flat-faced, bevelled-edged tablet, engraved with "RZ5" on one side and a symbol on the other side, contains 5 mg of rizatriptan (as rizatriptan benzoate). Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal anhydrous silica, crospovidone, mannitol, magnesium stearate, peppermint flavour, natural, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol crystalline.
Each white to off-white, round, flat-faced, bevelled-edged tablet, engraved with "RZ10" on one side and a symbol on the other side, contains 10 mg of rizatriptan (as rizatriptan benzoate). Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal anhydrous silica, crospovidone, mannitol, magnesium stearate, peppermint flavour, natural, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol crystalline.