Maxalt
Generic Name: rizatriptan benzoate
Brand Name: Maxalt
Indications
Maxalt is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults.
Dosage and Administration
Maxalt Tablets and Maxalt MLT-Orally disintegrating tablets are available for oral administration in strengths of 5 and 10 mg.
Normal dosage:
The recommended normal dosage is a single doses of 5 and 10 mg of Maxalt tablets and Maxalt MLT were effective for the acute treatment of migraines in adults. There is evidence that the 10-mg dose may provide a greater effect than the 5-mg dose. Individuals may vary in response to doses of Maxalt tablets. The choice of dose should therefore be made on an individual basis, weighing the possible benefit of the 10-mg dose with the potential risk for increased adverse events.
Redosing: Doses should be separated by at least 2 hours; no more than 30 mg should be taken in any 24-hour period. The safety of treating, on average, more than four headaches in a 30-day period has not been established.
Overdose: Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, sleepiness, a slow heartbeat, and vomiting.
Drug Description
Maxalt contains rizatriptan benzoate, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/1D (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonist.
Rizatriptan benzoate is described chemically as: N,N-dimethyl-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-ethanamine monobenzoate and its structural formula is:
Its empirical formula is C15H19N5•C7H6O2, representing a molecular weight of the free base of 269.4. Rizatriptan benzoate is a white to off-white, crystalline solid that is soluble in water at about 42 mg per mL (expressed as free base) at 25°C.
Side effects
The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Dizziness.
- Sleepiness (somnolence).
- Feeling weak or fatigued.
- Flushing.
- Sweating.
- Feeling of tightness in the throat.
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations).
- Increased heart rate.
- Pins and needles or tingling sensations.
- Headache.
- Tremor.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dry mouth.
- Diarrhoea.
- Blurred vision.
- Increase in blood pressure.
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
- Nervousness.
Precautions
- Do not take this medication if the headache you are experiencing is not like other migraines that you have had.
- The orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine. Each 5 mg tablet contains 1.05 mg phenylalanine and each 10 mg tablet contains 2.10 mg phenylalanine. Individuals with phenylketonuria may need to monitor their intake of this additive.
- This drug belongs to the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether this medication will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
- Has not been approved by the FDA for use by children younger than 18 years of age.
Drug Interactions
Do not take this medication if you have taken:
- a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days
- another 5-HT agonist in the last 24 hours-5-HT agonists include almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), and zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT)
- an ergot-based medication within the last 24 hours--ergot-based medicines include methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergostat, Ergomar), dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E., Migranal Nasal Spray), and ergotamine combination products (Cafergot, Wigraine, Cafatine-PB, and others)
