Maxalt-MLT or Maxalt for migraine

Rizatriptan, known more commonly by the brand names of Maxalt-MLT or Maxalt, is a migraine and headache medication that causes the blood vessels in the brain to contract to help relieve pressure and pain from such attacks. The drug is also able to reduce substances that may exist in the body that cause many of the most annoying migraine symptoms such as nausea, headache pain, sensitivity to sound and light.

However, it is primarily used to help treat migraine headaches after they occur as it does not have any preventative qualities and will not help reduce the amount of migraine attacks that a person suffers.
Rizatriptan should not be used to treat headaches that cause loss of movement, tension headaches, or any headache that is different from a typical migraine.

Those that suffer from heart disease, blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, or have a history of stroke or heart attack should not take this medication. In addition, Rizatriptan should not be taken with 24 hours of taking any other type of migraine medication or any MAOI. Those with kidney or liver disease should also not take the medication without a doctor’s advice.

The drug is administered as a tablet that you take by holding underneath of your tongue. After the first tablet you must wait two hours before taking a second dose, and only 30mg of Rizatriptan should be used within a 24 hour period.

Most people will begin to feel relief from their migraine symptoms within the first hour of the first tablet although complete relief may not come until after the second dose. Due to the fact that it is not known if rizatriptan will cause problems during pregnancy it is not recommended that pregnant women or those that are breastfeeding take the drug.