GP and surgeon, Dr Shane Charles (MBBS, MRCS, PgDip SEM) provides a simple explanation of the medication below:

'Rizatriptan is a medication used for the management of migraine headaches. '.

If you think Rizatriptan is a treatment that can help you, start an online consultation now for a registered prescriber to review. If treatment is deemed suitable, they can prescribe it, and we can deliver it to you from the comfort of your own home with a range of convenient delivery and payment options for you to choose from. If you have any questions about a medication, you should always consult your doctor with any questions prior to starting treatment, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you.

Rizatriptan is a medicine categorized as a selective serotonin receptor agonists. It is used to treat migraine headaches, severe throbbing headaches, and nausea brought about by sensitivity to light and sound. It only treats migraine headaches that has already begun, but it will not treat migraine headaches or reduce the number of migraine headache attacks.

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Rizatriptan patient information leaflet.

Rizatriptan works by simply narrowing the blood vessels of the brain, preventing any pain signals from being sent, and at the same time blocking the release of substances that causes throbbing pain, nausea, and other severe migraine symptoms. The medication is not intended to prevent patients migraine attacks or minimize persistence of headaches.

Rizatriptan benefits patients who are experiencing severe migraine headaches with or without aura. The efficacy of the anti-migraine medication helps patients to continue on with their daily lives and perform in their best capacity without the debilitating pain preventing them from doing their work or daily tasks. Make use of this medication only if your medical condition has been diagnosed by a physician as migraine headaches. Rizatriptan must be used only for purposes indicated in the product information guide.

Rizatriptan Tablets

Rizatriptan must be taken exactly as prescribed by your physician. Never take in smaller or larger amounts for longer than prescribed by your doctor. Follow the instructions on the prescription. Wrong use of this medicine can worsen your migraine headaches. Use the drug only when symptoms begin or after the migraine attack has already started.

Your prescriber can administer this drug in a clinic or hospital to check initially if you have any serious side effects. Be sure to contact your physician should your migraine headaches didn’t improve or you do not get better after taking the medication.

If you take this migraine drug for longer than recommended by your doctor, your migraine headaches can get worse or the attacks can happen frequently. Do not take this drug or other headache drugs for over ten days in a month. Call your physician if you need to take Rizatriptan to cure more than 4 headaches in a month’s time. Contact your doctor for the product information leaflet to know more about the medication. This medicine is often prescribed for other various uses, ask a medical healthcare professional for more details.

Rizatriptan Dosage

Rizatriptan comes in a  10 mg tablet. One tablet of Rizatriptan consists of 14.53mg Rizatriptan Benzoate, totalling to 10mg of Rizatriptan. The recommended dose for adults 18 years old and older is 10 mg. If you need to redose, there must be a 2 hour interval between each dose, and no more than 2 doses to be taken in the next 24 hours.

If headache recurs in 24 hours, you can take another dose of 10 mg but no more than this. The said dosing limits must be strictly followed.

If headache persists, the efficacy of a second dosage for migraine treatment where the first dose is not effective, has not been established in clinical trials. Thus, when a patient does not have positive response on the initial dose, a next or second dose is not advised.

Many clinical studies revealed that patients who do not have a favourable response to Rizatriptan treatment are still able to respond to the treatment for further migraine headache attacks.

Rizatriptan doses must be taken by at least 2 hour interval, not exceeding two doses in any 24-hour time span.

Rizatriptan Side Effects

Rizatriptan although well tolerated may also cause side effects. Let your doctor know if any of these side effects become severe:

• Tiredness or Fatigue
  • Upset stomach
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle Pain
  • Muscle Cramps
  • Diarrhoea
  • Tremors
  • Dry mouth
  • Flushing

Other Rizatriptan side effects can be serious and should not be ignored. If you experience any of these adverse effects, contact your doctor soon or seek immediate medical attention:

• Numbness of an arm or leg
  • Slow or slurred speech
  • Sudden severe stomach pain
  • Bloody diarrhoea 
  • Pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Allergic reactions like swelling of the face, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or feet
  • Rash
  • Itching
  • Changes in vision
  • Heaviness in the chest
  • Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Lightheadedness

Like any drug, this medication bears some side effects, if you have any of these symptoms, do not ignore it. Immediately seek medical assistance or consult with a healthcare professional for help.

A patient must not take Rizatriptan if they have any history of heart ailment, coronary heart diseases, blood circulation issues, angina, high blood pressure, low blood supply to the heart, history of stroke or heart attack, ischemic bowel problem, and if your headache appears to be far from the migraine headaches that you were always experiencing.

Never take this anti-migraine medication if you have taken drugs that are categorised as MAOI or Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor such as phenelzine (Nardil), socarboxazid (Marplan), furazolidone (Furoxone), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate), and irasagiline (Azilect) in the past two weeks.

To ensure you are eligible to take Rizatriptan, let your doctor know immediately if you have any other medical conditions such as:

• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Problems
• Liver Disease
• Kidney Disease (If you have undergone dialysis)
• Coronary Heart Ailment
• Diabetes
• Menopause
• Overweight
• Have undergone hysterectomy
• Have high cholesterol

Let your doctor know if you are taking antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Sarafem, Celexa, Cymbalta, Luvox, Paxil, Pexeva, Zoloft, Desyrel, Oleptro, Effexor, Viibryd, and more.

Remember that this drug is intended to treat only migraine headaches that has already begun and it will not prevent any headaches or reduce the incidence of migraine headaches.  Right after taking the Rizatriptan tablet, allow two more hours before taking a next dose or tablet. You are not allowed to take more than 30 mg of Rizatriptan in a 24-hour period.

Do not take Rizatriptan if you are pregnant, expecting to be pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant. There is no medical studies pointing to the efficacy of the drug when used by pregnant women. As much as possible, consult with your doctor before taking any medication.

Lactating or breastfeeding mothers are also precluded from taking Rizatriptan. Children below 12 years old are also prohibited from using the medication.

If you are driving, operating machinery, or are performing tasks that require your focus and full attention, refrain from taking Rizatriptan. The drug can cause users to be dizzy or nauseous and is dangerous for use by people who are driving or operating machinery.

If your condition does not improve or if your migraine headaches become severe or worsen, do not hesitate to contact a prescriber and inform them of your predicament. Never ignore side effects and symptoms especially if they are serious and will not go easily go away. Never attempt to self prescribe Rizatriptan, this drug is to be used strictly upon a prescriber’s prescription and instruction.

Rizatriptan UK

You can safely buy Rizatriptan online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Rizatriptan is the right medication for your medical condition.

More Information

• Different types of migraine