Rizatriptan is a tablet medication you take to help you with the symptoms of migraine with or without aura. It’s a selective serotonin receptor agonist, and like sumatriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan and eletriptan, it’s a medicine that’s been specifically formulated to treat migraines. These treatments are frequently known as ‘triptans’ (for obvious reasons), and they all work in largely the same way.
Triptans like Rizatriotan don’t work to prevent migraine headaches from occurring, they should only be used to help your symptoms when they occur. If you suffer frequent migraines, you might be encouraged to try to identify what causes your migraines by keeping a diary in order to reduce them.
How does Rizatriptan work?
It’s thought that your migraine symptoms are caused by temporary changes to your brain’s chemistry which leads its blood vessels to widen. Rizatriptan binds to your serotonin receptors, which causes the blood vessels around your brain to reduce in size, which reduces the transmission of pain signals and improves your symptoms.
Because Rizatriptan has a specific method of action, it shouldn’t be taken for regular tension headaches, or for any other pain relief. It won’t work, and using too many painkillers or triptans can lead to something called medication overuse headache – where headaches start being caused as a result of withdrawal symptoms. [1]
What doses of Rizatriptan are there?
There are two doses of Rizatriptan: 5mg and 10mg. The recommended dose is 10mg, unless you are taking propranolol, or have kidney or liver problems. If this is the case, then you’ll likely be prescribed the 5mg dose.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr. Joseph Palumbo on November 28, 2024. Next review due on November 28, 2027.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
RizatriptanRizatriptan
How to take Rizatriptan
You should always take Rizatriptan exactly as instructed by our doctor.
To take Rizatriptan, simply swallow one tablet, whole, with liquid. You should then wait at least two hours before taking another tablet if your symptoms come back. Don’t take more than one tablet for the same migraine attack.
How long does it take Rizatriptan to work?
Rizatriptan should start to get to work to help your symptoms within two hours of taking it.[1] If you don’t feel like your symptoms are improving, don’t take an additional tablet for the same migraine attack. Instead, contact a clinician for guidance.
What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Rizatriptan?
Try to always make sure you follow our clinician’s guidance when taking Rizatriptan. If you’ve taken too much and feel unwell, seek medical help straight away.
Treated trusted source:
Tfelt-Hansen, P., et al. (1998). Oral Rizatriptan Versus Oral Sumatriptan: A Direct Comparative Study in the Acute Treatment of Migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 38(10), pp.748–755.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr. Joseph Palumbo on November 28, 2024. Next review due on November 28, 2027.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
RizatriptanRizatriptan
Rizatriptan isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things that you need to be aware of when taking it.
Here’s all the official info on it. If anything is unclear, let our clinician know, and they can talk with you about it.
RizatriptanRizatriptan
Rizatriptan: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Rizatriptan different from other treatments for migraine?
Answer:
Migraine treatments usually come in the form of one of:
painkillers
antiemetics (anti-sickness medicines)
triptans
combination treatments (usually a combination of painkiller and antiemetic)
Rizatriptan, as a triptan, has a similar mode of action to other triptans, in that it binds to your serotonin receptors in order to reduce the swelling of your brain’s blood vessels and reduce your symptoms. But different triptans can suit some people more or less than other people. Also, some triptans, like frovatriptan, stay in your system for a long time (but take a while to work), whereas other triptans, like sumatriptan, can start to get to work quickly to help your symptoms but don’t stay in your system for as long. [1]
Finding the best treatment for you can sometimes take a bit of trial and error. If you’re not sure where to start, talk to us about your health and our expert team can point you in the right direction.
Is Rizatriptan similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
There’s a branded equivalent of Rizatriptan, called Maxalt. Both Rizatriptan and Maxalt are available in the same forms and doses of the active ingredient. As a result, they’ll work in much the same way to treat your symptoms - they’re just produced by different companies in different labs.
Branded medicines are usually a bit more expensive than generics, so you might find that Maxalt can cost a little more than Rizatriptan.
Which version of Rizatriptan should I use?
Answer:
The standard dose of Rizatriptan is 10mg, though you may be prescribed 5mg if you have a history of liver or kidney problems. There’s also an orodispersible tablet of Rizatriptan that melts on the tongue, which you might prefer to use if you struggle to swallow tablets.
Do I need a prescription for Rizatriptan?
Answer:
Yes, you need a prescription for Rizatriptan.
Triptans aren’t suitable for everyone, and a doctor is going to want to be sure that you suffer from migraine headaches and not a different kind of headache, or that your symptoms aren’t being caused by another condition.
Our experts continually monitor new findings in health and medicine, and we update our articles when new info becomes available.
Nov 27, 2024
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr. Joseph Palumbo, Senior Medical Adviser
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
This is healthcare on your terms.
All from the comfort of your device. Get access to what you need, when you need it.
100% online
Ask questions and get expert recommendations, at the touch of a button.
Tailored choices
We'll narrow down some treatments for you to choose from based on your medical profile.
Secure shipping
Receive your treatment by express delivery, in discreet packaging.
Easy automatic refills
Set your own delivery schedule and pause or make changes any time you like.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Dr. Joseph Palumbo
Senior Medical Adviser
Joseph joined Treated in 2023, and is one of the lead doctors providing prescribing services for the platform.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Reviews you can trust
All of our reviews are collected from real patients after their treatment has been delivered.
We publish reviews collected through independent platforms including Reviews.io and Trustpilot.
