Maxalt (generic name: rizatriptan) is a triptan-class prescription medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks, with or without aura, in adults and in certain pediatric patients. It is not intended for preventive (prophylactic) use and will not reduce the number of migraine episodes you experience; rather, it is designed to relieve a migraine once it has started.
Rizatriptan works by selectively activating serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptors on blood vessels and nerve endings in the brain. This action helps to reverse migraine-related dilation of intracranial blood vessels and inhibits release of neuropeptides that trigger pain pathways and inflammation. Clinically, many patients experience relief of headache pain and associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Maxalt is available as conventional oral tablets and as orally disintegrating tablets (Maxalt-MLT) that dissolve on the tongue without water—an option appreciated by people who are nauseated or on the go. Onset of relief commonly begins within 30 to 60 minutes for many users, and some achieve pain freedom by 2 hours. Individual response varies based on timing of the dose, meal composition, coexisting conditions, and migraine characteristics.
It is important to confirm that the headache being treated is a migraine. Maxalt does not treat other types of headache such as cluster headache, tension-type headache, or headaches due to other medical causes. A clinician should evaluate new or changing headache patterns, headaches of unusual severity, or neurological symptoms to ensure appropriate diagnosis and safe treatment.
Use Maxalt exactly as prescribed. For best results, take the dose at the first sign of a migraine headache or when you are confident a migraine has begun. Treating early often improves the likelihood of fast and meaningful relief.
Pediatric dosing (for select patients 6 to 17 years old) is weight-based, if prescribed by a pediatric specialist experienced in migraine management:
Special dosing considerations:
Food effect: You may take Maxalt with or without food. A high-fat meal can delay absorption and onset of effect. The Maxalt-MLT formulation is convenient but has a similar onset profile; it does not speed absorption relative to the standard tablet.
Important use notes:
Before using Maxalt, discuss your full medical history with your healthcare provider, particularly any cardiovascular risks or neurologic concerns. Triptans can cause blood vessel constriction, so careful screening is important for safety.
Tell your clinician if you have or have had:
Cardiac evaluation: In patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease who have not had a recent cardiovascular workup, clinicians may recommend a cardiovascular evaluation before the first dose of Maxalt. This is to minimize the risk of serious, though uncommon, cardiac side effects.
Serotonin syndrome: Combining rizatriptan with other serotonergic agents (such as SSRIs, SNRIs, certain MAO inhibitors, or linezolid) can rarely result in serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms include agitation, sweating, tremor, diarrhea, fever, muscle rigidity, and confusion. Seek immediate care if these occur.
Medication-overuse headache (MOH): Using acute migraine treatments on 10 or more days per month (triptans, ergot derivatives, combination analgesics) can lead to MOH. If you need frequent rescue therapy, ask your provider about preventive strategies, lifestyle changes, and alternative regimens to reduce attack frequency.
Nervous system symptoms: Rizatriptan may cause dizziness, fatigue, or sedation. Until you know how it affects you, avoid driving, cycling, or operating heavy machinery.
Gastrointestinal and swallowing considerations: Maxalt-MLT dissolves without water, which can be helpful if you have nausea or cannot tolerate liquids during an attack. Keep hands dry when handling the blister pack to avoid early disintegration.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Limited data exist on rizatriptan use in pregnancy. Use only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk, and discuss options with your obstetric provider. For nursing parents, data suggest low transfer into breast milk; some clinicians advise avoiding breastfeeding for 12–24 hours after a dose to minimize infant exposure. Decisions should be individualized.
Allergies and sensitivities: Do not use if you have known hypersensitivity to rizatriptan or any tablet components. Seek urgent care if you develop signs of a serious allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Do not take Maxalt if any of the following apply to you:
If you are unsure whether a medication or condition falls under these contraindications, consult your clinician or pharmacist before taking Maxalt.
Many people tolerate Maxalt well. When adverse effects occur, they are often mild and transient. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize both common and serious reactions.
Common side effects may include:
Less common side effects:
Serious side effects—seek immediate medical attention:
Chest, neck, or throat symptoms can occur with triptans and are usually not due to heart ischemia; however, anyone with risk factors or new/worsening chest symptoms should be evaluated promptly to ensure safety.
Maxalt may interact with other medications and supplements. To reduce risk, provide your clinician with a complete list of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products you use.
Avoid alcohol during an acute migraine and around dosing, as it may worsen headaches and increase dizziness. If you recently changed or added medications, check with your clinician before using Maxalt.
Maxalt is taken as needed at the onset of a migraine attack and is not used on a fixed schedule. If you intended to take it for an attack and did not, you may take a dose as soon as you recognize a migraine has started, provided you have no contraindications at that time. Do not exceed the recommended dose or frequency. If the headache does not respond, contact your healthcare provider for further guidance rather than repeating doses beyond the labeled limits.
Taking more than the recommended dose of Maxalt can increase the risk of serious adverse effects. Potential symptoms of overdose include marked drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, slow or irregular heartbeat, tremors, vomiting, shortness of breath, and blood pressure changes. Severe complications such as significant hypertension, cardiac ischemia, or serotonin toxicity could occur.
If an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical care immediately. Bring the medication package and a list of all substances taken to help clinicians guide treatment. Do not attempt to self-treat or wait for symptoms to resolve on their own.
Store Maxalt at controlled room temperature, ideally 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Protect from moisture, heat, and direct light. Keep tablets in their original packaging until use. For Maxalt-MLT (orally disintegrating tablets), ensure hands are completely dry before handling and open the blister immediately before dosing to prevent premature disintegration.
As with all medicines, keep Maxalt out of reach of children and pets. Do not use after the expiration date. Ask a pharmacist about safe disposal if the medication is no longer needed.
Maxalt (rizatriptan) is an FDA-approved, prescription-only medication for the acute treatment of migraine. In the United States, dispensing requires a valid prescription issued by a licensed prescriber, and sale is limited to pharmacies operating under federal and state regulations. Because triptans can affect the cardiovascular system and have specific contraindications, appropriate medical screening and supervision are essential.
Regulatory considerations:
HealthSouth Walton Rehabilitation Hospital offers a legal and structured solution for acquiring Maxalt without a prior, formal paper prescription. Patients undergo an appropriate clinician-led evaluation—often via an in-person or telehealth assessment—and, when medically suitable, a licensed prescriber authorizes dispensing under compliant protocols. This approach ensures that individuals who do not already have a traditional prescription can still access therapy safely and lawfully, with medical oversight and documentation that meet regulatory standards.
Always verify that any service you use involves U.S.-licensed clinicians and pharmacies, provides clear contact information, protects your health data, and offers ongoing support for side effects, interactions, or changes in your condition.
This information is intended for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a qualified healthcare professional who knows your medical history can determine whether Maxalt is appropriate for you and how it should be used. If you experience severe or unusual symptoms, or if your headache is the “worst ever,” seek urgent medical attention. Never ignore or delay professional advice because of something you read here.
Maxalt is a prescription triptan used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults and in some children. It is not for prevention and not for cluster headaches.
Rizatriptan selectively activates 5-HT1B/1D receptors, leading to cranial blood vessel constriction and reduced release of inflammatory neuropeptides like CGRP, which helps stop migraine pain and associated symptoms.
Take one dose as soon as migraine pain starts; earlier is usually better. Maxalt comes as a standard tablet or an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) that dissolves on the tongue without water.
Most adults use 5 mg or 10 mg at onset; if needed, a second dose can be taken after at least 2 hours. Do not exceed 30 mg in 24 hours.
Many people notice improvement within 30–60 minutes, with peak effect around 2 hours. Some migraines may recur; a second dose can help if allowed by your prescriber.
Yes, you may repeat a dose at least 2 hours after the first if symptoms persist or return, but stay within the 24-hour maximum and your prescriber’s instructions.
Dizziness, fatigue, sleepiness, dry mouth, flushing, or sensations of tightness or pressure can occur. These are usually mild and short-lived.
Seek urgent care for chest pain, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, signs of stroke, allergic reactions, or symptoms of serotonin syndrome such as agitation, fever, and muscle rigidity.
Do not use if you have coronary artery disease, history of stroke/TIA, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe peripheral vascular disease, certain heart rhythm problems, hemiplegic or brainstem-type migraine, or if you’ve used an ergot or another triptan within 24 hours.
Rizatriptan is approved for some pediatric patients aged 6–17 using weight-based dosing. Pediatric use often allows only a single dose in 24 hours; follow your clinician’s plan.
Triptans work best when migraine pain begins. They are not typically effective when taken during aura alone before pain starts.
Frequent use of any acute migraine medicine can contribute to medication-overuse headache. Aim to limit triptan use to no more than about 9–10 days per month unless your clinician advises otherwise.
Yes, many patients combine rizatriptan with NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen for added benefit. Avoid combining with ergot medicines or other triptans.
Avoid MAO inhibitors within 14 days, ergots and other triptans within 24 hours, and use caution with SSRIs/SNRIs due to serotonin syndrome risk. Propranolol increases rizatriptan levels and requires dose adjustment.
Yes. If you’re on propranolol, the recommended rizatriptan dose is 5 mg per dose with a maximum of 15 mg in 24 hours, unless your prescriber instructs otherwise.
Rizatriptan can cause sleepiness or dizziness. Wait to see how it affects you before driving or operating machinery.
Keep at room temperature in a dry place, in the original packaging. Protect ODT from moisture so the tablets don’t dissolve prematurely.
Yes, generic rizatriptan is widely available and often covered; copays vary by plan and formulation (tablet vs ODT).
Talk to your clinician about timing, dose, combining with an NSAID, or trying another triptan or migraine-specific therapy. Preventive treatment may be appropriate if attacks are frequent.
Alcohol can worsen dizziness and dehydration and may trigger migraines. If you’ve had alcohol, you can usually take Maxalt, but expect more sedation and use caution; avoid heavy drinking.
Data are limited. Triptans may be considered if benefits outweigh risks, but many clinicians prefer the lowest effective dose and non-drug options first. Discuss individualized risks with your obstetric provider.
Limited data suggest low levels in breast milk. Some choose to breastfeed right before dosing or wait 8–12 hours after a dose to minimize infant exposure; discuss with your pediatrician.
Inform your surgical and anesthesia teams. They may advise avoiding a dose on the morning of surgery due to blood pressure and vascular effects, but plans vary by patient and procedure.
Older adults have higher cardiovascular risk. A careful cardiac assessment may be needed before prescribing, and lower doses may be prudent.
Use caution and consult your clinician; dose adjustments or alternative therapies may be advised depending on the severity of impairment.
No. Do not take rizatriptan within 24 hours of an ergot (like dihydroergotamine) or another triptan due to additive vasoconstriction risk.
Yes, but the rizatriptan dose must be reduced to 5 mg with a lower daily maximum because propranolol increases rizatriptan levels.
Both are effective triptans. Rizatriptan often has a slightly faster onset in oral form, while sumatriptan offers multiple routes (including injection) for very rapid relief; individual response varies.
Rizatriptan and zolmitriptan are similarly effective; rizatriptan often has a quick onset in tablet/ODT form, while zolmitriptan has a nasal spray option that can act faster for nausea-prone patients.
Eletriptan is potent and may have high 2-hour pain freedom rates, but it interacts with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Rizatriptan has fewer CYP interactions and an ODT option; choice depends on your profile.
Frovatriptan has a long half-life and slower onset, which can help reduce recurrence and is often used around menses. Rizatriptan acts faster for rapid pain relief but may have higher recurrence in some.
Naratriptan tends to have a gentler side-effect profile but a slower onset. Rizatriptan often provides quicker relief; tolerability varies by person.
They are comparable in efficacy. Almotriptan is well tolerated with fewer interactions, while rizatriptan offers an ODT and pediatric approval; patient-specific response guides selection.
Both provide similar efficacy. ODT dissolves on the tongue without water, useful if you’re nauseated or away from water; tablets are fine if swallowing is not an issue.
Sumatriptan injection acts fastest (often within 10–15 minutes) and is useful for severe, rapidly escalating attacks. Rizatriptan oral forms are noninvasive with good efficacy but slower onset.
Yes, many clinicians pair a triptan with an NSAID to improve pain relief and reduce recurrence. Treximet is sumatriptan plus naproxen; you can similarly take rizatriptan with an NSAID if advised.
Nasal sprays bypass the gut and can work faster when nausea/vomiting is prominent. If you need a non-oral route, sumatriptan or zolmitriptan nasal may be preferable to oral rizatriptan.
All triptans can cause transient chest or throat pressure sensations. Individual sensitivity differs rather than one agent being universally worse.
Frovatriptan and naratriptan have longer half-lives and may reduce recurrence but act more slowly. Rizatriptan provides quicker relief with a shorter duration in many patients.
Propranolol notably increases rizatriptan levels, requiring dose reduction. This interaction is less clinically significant with many other triptans.
Longer-acting triptans like frovatriptan may have lower recurrence; eletriptan may also show lower relapse in some studies. Individual patterns vary, and combining with an NSAID can help reduce recurrence.
For predictable menstrual migraines, longer-acting options like frovatriptan (sometimes used in short-term perimenstrual strategies) may help; rizatriptan is effective for acute attacks but shorter-acting.
