Rizatriptan Benzoate, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antimigraine

Generic and brand names: rizatriptan benzoate, oral; Maxalt; Maxalt-MLT

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to relieve the pain of acute migraine headaches in adults. It will not prevent migraine headaches or reduce the number you may have. This medicine is not intended to treat other types of headaches. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a heart attack, stroke, or other heart disease
• angina pectoris (chest pain)
• cluster headaches
• hemiplegic or basilar migraine headaches
• liver, kidney, or bowel disease
• peripheral vascular disease (problems with blood circulation)
• uncontrolled high blood pressure
• phenylketonuria (PKU). The tablets that melt on your tongue contain aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.

Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, being overweight, or a family history of heart disease or stroke.

Do not take this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor antidepressant within the last 14 days.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant because it may harm the baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take 1 dose with water when you start getting a migraine. If approved by your healthcare provider, you may take a second dose at least 2 hours after the first dose if the migraine returns. If the first dose is not effective, DO NOT take a second dose unless your healthcare provider approves. If you are not sure of the directions for taking this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

Do not take more than 30 mg in 24 hours.

This medicine is available in two forms: tablets that you can swallow and tablets that melt on your tongue. The tablets that melt on your tongue come in an aluminum pouch with a blister pack inside that holds a tablet. Do not open the blister pack until you are ready to take the tablet. With dry hands, peel open the blister pack and place the tablet on your tongue. No water is necessary.

Read the information sheet that comes in the medicine package for more information.

If you are also taking propranolol (Inderal), do not take more than 5 mg of this medicine (rizatriptan) at one time. Also, do not take more than 15 mg of this medicine in 24 hours.

If you take more tablets than prescribed, contact your healthcare provider or poison control center right away for directions on what to do, or get emergency medical care.

Do not take other migraine medicines within 24 hours of a dose of this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause serious heart problems, stroke, or increased blood pressure. If you develop tightness or pain in your chest, jaw, or neck, contact your healthcare provider right away.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Do not smoke while using this medicine. Smoking may increase your risk of side effects.

If you have more than 4 migraine attacks a month, ask your healthcare provider what to do.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening: (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; chest pain or tightness in your chest; trouble breathing; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat); sudden confusion or severe weakness.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Jaw or neck tightness, chest pain, irregular or rapid heartbeat, sudden or severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, severe headache, easy bruising.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, tiredness, ringing in the ears, nervousness, tremor, flushing or tingling sensation, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, vision changes, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, ankle swelling, sweating, eye pain, weakness, confusion.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• ergot-containing medicines such as ergotamine (Bel Tabs, Bellamine S, Cafergot, Ergomar) and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal) (Do not take these within 24 hours of a dose of this medicine.)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take this medicine within 14 days of an MAO inhibitor.)
• herbal remedies such as kava and St. John's wort
• propranolol (Inderal)
• any medicines taken by mouth or inhaled to treat migraines, which include almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• sibutramine (Meridia)
• ziprasidone (Geodon).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.