This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.
Brand Names: US
Maxalt; Maxalt-MLT
Brand Names: Canada
ACCEL-Rizatriptan ODT; ACT Rizatriptan; AG-Rizatriptan ODT; APO-Rizatriptan; APO-Rizatriptan RPD [DSC]; Auro-Rizatriptan [DSC]; CCP-Rizatriptan ODT [DSC]; DOM-Rizatriptan RDT; JAMP-Rizatriptan; JAMP-Rizatriptan IR [DSC]; JAMP-Rizatriptan ODT; MAR-Rizatriptan; MAR-Rizatriptan ODT; Maxalt; Maxalt RPD; MYLAN-Rizatriptan ODT; NAT-Rizatriptan ODT; NRA-Rizatriptan ODT; PMS-Rizatriptan RDT; SANDOZ Rizatriptan ODT; TEVA-Rizatriptan ODT
What is this drug used for?
- It is used to treat migraine headaches.
What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?
- If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
- If your child has high blood pressure.
- If your child has ever had any of these health problems: Chest pain or pressure; diseased arteries going to the legs or arms; heart attack; heart disease; poor blood flow in the heart, brain, bowel, or kidney; stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA); migraines like hemiplegic or basilar migraine; or an abnormal heartbeat like Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
- If your child takes propranolol.
- If your child has taken certain drugs for depression like isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine in the last 14 days. Taking this drug within 14 days of those drugs can cause severe high blood pressure.
- If your child has taken almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, sumatriptan, or zolmitriptan in the last 24 hours.
- If your child has taken ergotamine, methysergide, dihydroergotamine, or any drug like them in the last 24 hours.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.
Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?
- Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
- High blood pressure has happened with this drug. Have your child’s blood pressure checked as you have been told by the doctor.
- This drug is not meant to prevent or lower the number of migraine headaches your child gets. Talk with the doctor.
- If your child has a headache that is not like the usual migraine headaches, talk with the doctor before you give this drug.
- Giving more of this drug (a higher dose, more often) than the doctor told you to give may cause your child’s headaches to become worse.
- Use care if your child has risks for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, high blood sugar or diabetes, cigarette smoking, other family members with early heart disease). Talk with the doctor.
- If your child has phenylketonuria (PKU), talk with your child’s doctor. Some products have phenylalanine.
If your child is pregnant or breast-feeding a baby:
- Talk with the doctor if your child is pregnant, becomes pregnant, or is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to your child and the baby.
What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
- Change in eyesight.
- Loss of eyesight. This can be long-lasting.
- Very bad headache or if headache is not better after the first dose.
- A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
- Severe upset stomach or throwing up.
- Severe stomach pain or bloody diarrhea.
- Feeling of heaviness or tightness in the leg muscles.
- Feeling cold.
- A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if your child also takes certain other drugs. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; a fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly heart problems like heart attack and a heartbeat that is not normal have rarely happened within a few hours of taking this drug. Call the doctor right away if your child has chest, throat, neck, or jaw tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness; breaking out in a cold sweat; shortness of breath; a fast heartbeat; a heartbeat that does not feel normal; or very bad dizziness or passing out.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly brain blood vessel problems like stroke have rarely happened with this drug. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on 1 side of the face, or change in eyesight.
What are some other side effects of this drug?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:
- Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
- Upset stomach.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to your national health agency.
How is this drug best given?
Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
All products:
- Give this drug with or without food.
- Give as early as you can after the attack has started.
- If your child’s headache does not get better, gets better but comes back, or if your child only gets some relief, talk with the doctor before giving another dose.
Oral-disintegrating tablet:
- Be sure your hands are dry before you touch this drug.
- Some brands of this drug come in a blister pack. If this drug comes in a blister pack, take out the tablet right before use. Peel back the foil on the blister. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Doing so may cause the tablet to break.
- Place on your child’s tongue and let it dissolve. Water is not needed. Do not let your child swallow it whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush it.
Film:
- Do not remove this drug from the pouch until your child is ready to take it.
- Place on your child’s tongue and let it dissolve. This will take about 2 minutes. Water is not needed. This drug can be swallowed with saliva.
What do I do if my child misses a dose?
- This drug is given on an as needed basis. Do not give to your child more often than told by the doctor.
How do I store and/or throw out this drug?
- Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
General drug facts
- If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
- Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
- Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.
Last Reviewed Date
2023-04-27
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