Rizatriptan

Rizatriptan (trade name Maxalt) is a 5-HT1 receptor agonist of the triptan class of drugs developed by Merck & Co. for the treatment of migraine headaches. It is available in strengths of 5 and 10 mg as tablets and orally disintegrating tablets (Maxalt-MLT).

Maxalt obtained approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 29, 1998. It is a second-generation triptan.

Rizatriptan is available only by prescription in Australia, Finland, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Similarly, it is classed as a POM (Prescription Only Medicine) in the United Kingdom, Italy (as Rizaliv), France, Israel (as Rizalt), The Netherlands, Croatia and Spain (as Maxalt).

Indications

Rizatriptan is FDA-approved to treat acute migraine attacks with or without aura. It does not prevent future migraine attacks. Rizatriptan is also used off-label to treat cluster headaches.

Contraindications

Adverse effects

Mechanism of action