Maxalt

Description

Maxalt (generic name: Rizatriptan; brand names: Rizaliv / Rizalt) is a powerful prescription medicine that offers proven relief from migraine pain.

Maxalt is used for treating acute migraine headache with or without aura (flashing lights, wavy lines, dark spots) in adults.

Maxalt also helps relieve migraine-associated symptoms of nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Maxalt begins working in as little as 30 minutes.

During a migraine attack, blood vessels in the brain dilate, or widen, resulting in a throbbing pain. Maxalt decreases this widening, returning the blood vessels to their normal size, and therefore helps to relieve the pain. Maxalt also blocks the release of certain chemicals from nerve endings that cause more pain and other symptoms of migraine.

Maxalt does not contain aspirin or caffeine and is not a narcotic.

Recommendations

Follow the directions on the package or prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Maxalt exactly as directed.

Take Maxalt by mouth with or without food. Take Maxalt with plenty of fluid.

Take a single dose of Maxalt as soon as migraine symptoms appear. A second dose may be taken if there is only a partial response or symptoms of the migraine return. However, do not take it sooner than 2 hours following the first dose. Do not take more than 30 milligrams (mg) in a 24-hour period.

Do not take additional doses if you do not get a response from the first dose.

If you miss a dose of Maxalt and you still have a headache, follow your doctor's dosing instructions. Do not take Maxalt more often than prescribed. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Keep Maxalt at room temperature, away from light, heat and moisture.

Precautions

Before you start to take Maxalt, tell your doctor if:

you have an allergy to Maxalt or other medicines;
you have high blood pressure that is not being treated;
you have some heart diseases, including angina, or a previous heart attack;
you are currently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, or have taken them within the last two weeks;
you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed;
your headache is more severe than your 'usual' migraine, or it behaves differently;
you are intolerant to lactose (this applies to the tablet only).

Ingredients

Active ingredient: rizatriptan benzoate.