Trade names Maxalt MedlinePlus a601109 Routes of
administration Oral Molar mass 269.345 g/mol Bioavailability 45% | AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph Pregnancy
category B1 (Au), C (U.S.) ATC code N02CC04 (WHO) CAS ID 145202-66-0 Protein binding 14% | |
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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).
Contents
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
Drug Interactions
Mechanism of action
Rizatriptan acts as an agonist at serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors. Like the other triptans sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, rizatriptan induces vasoconstriction—possibly by inhibiting the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory neurons in the trigeminal nerve.