Drug Name

Rizact (rizatriptan)

Drug Uses

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

Drug Class and Mechanism

Rizatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Rizatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Warnings/Precautions

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to rizatriptan, or if you have:

• a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
• ischemic bowel disease;
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
• a headache that is not like other headaches you have had.

Do not take rizatriptan if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before taking rizatriptan, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease (especially if you are on dialysis);
• heart disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or
• coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Rizatriptan disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of rizatriptan if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Before taking rizatriptan, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on a rizatriptan pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.

It is not known whether rizatriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to anyone under 18 years old.

Possible Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using rizatriptan and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes; or
• (if you are also taking an antidepressant) - agitation, high fever, sweating, fast or pounding heartbeats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of balance or coordination, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, fainting.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dry mouth, mild nausea;
• feeling of pain or tightness in your jaw, neck, or throat;
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
• dizziness, drowsiness, weakness; or
• mild tingly feeling.

More Information

Your pharmacist can provide more information about rizatriptan.