Antimigraine Agents
Rizatriptan
Rizatriptan

Dosage Forms:

  • 5 mg and 10 mg tablets

Drug Group

Selective agonist for serotonin 5HT1D receptor

Mechanism

Selective agonist for serotonin 5HT1D receptor in cranial arteries to cause vasoconstriction and reduce sterile inflammation associated with antidromic neuronal transmission correlating with relief of migraine.

Indications

Rizatriptan is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. Rizatriptan is not intended for the prophylactic therapy of migraine or for use in the management of hemiplegic or basilar migraine.

Dosage and Administration:

  •  In controlled clinical trials, single doses of 5 and 10 mg of rizatriptan tablets 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 rizatriptan 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. In patients receiving propranolol, the 5-mg dose of rizatriptan should be used, up to a maximum of 3 doses in any 24-hour period.

Precautions and Warnings

Drinking alcoholic beverages can make headaches worse or cause new headaches to occur. People who suffer from severe headaches should probably avoid alcoholic beverages, especially during a headache. Some people feel drowsy or dizzy during or after a migraine, or after taking rizatriptan to relieve a migraine. As long as you are feeling drowsy or dizzy, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Side Effects

Serious cardiac events, including some that have been fatal, have occurred following use of 5-HT1 agonists. These events are extremely rare and most have been reported in patients with risk factors predictive of CAD. Events reported have included coronary artery vasospasm, transient myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.
Interactions:Use within 24 hours of another selective 5-HT1 agonist or ergot-containing drug should be avoided due to possible additive vasoconstriction MAO inhibitors and nonselective MAO inhibitors increase concentration of rizatriptan Propranolol: Plasma concentration of rizatriptan increased 70% serotonergic reuptake inhibitors (e.g., SSRIs/SNRIs): Concurrent use of rizatriptan with these agents may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome; monitor. Serotonin agonists (e.g., triptans): Concurrent use of rizatriptan with these agents may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome; monitor.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; therefore, rizatriptan should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when rizatriptan is administered to women who are breast-feeding.

Packaging

  • 10 tablets in one blister. 3 blisters in a box.