Rizatriptan

Rizatriptan (Maxalt) is a 5-HT1 agonist triptan drug developed by Merck & Co. for the treatment of migraine headaches. It is available in strengths of 5 and 10 mg as tablets and orally disintegrating tablets (Maxalt-MLT).

Maxalt obtained approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 29, 1998. It is a second-generation triptan.

Rizatriptan is available only by prescription in Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Similarly, it is classed as a POM (Prescription Only Medicine) in the United Kingdom, Italy (as Rizaliv), Israel (as Rizalt), The Netherlands (as Maxalt), Croatia (as Maxalt) and Spain (as Maxalt)

Use
Rizatriptan is used to treat acute migraine attacks. It does not prevent future migraine attacks.

Indications

 * migraine headache with or without aura

Contraindications

 * coronary artery disease
 * use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Adverse effects
Severe:
 * coronary artery vasospasm
 * transient myocardial ischemia
 * myocardial infarction
 * ventricular tachycardia
 * ventricular fibrillation
 * hypertensive crisis

Atypical sensations:
 * paresthesia

Cardiovascular:
 * palpitations
 * syncope
 * hypertension
 * hypotension

Ear, nose, and throat:
 * tinnitus
 * sinusitis
 * allergic rhinitis
 * upper respiratory tract inflammation

Gastrointestinal:
 * diarrhea

Muscular:
 * myalgia

Neurological:
 * phonophobia
 * photophobia

Respiratory:
 * dyspnea

Skin:
 * sweating

Miscellaneous:
 * hypersensitivity