Rizatriptan

What is Rizatriptan?

Rizatriptan (commonly sold under the brand name of Maxalt) is a selective serotonin 5-HTR1B/1D receptor agonist, which are collectively known as triptans.

Rizatriptan is taken to relieve the pain caused by migraine headaches. It helps to shrink the blood vessels in your head back to normal during a migraine attack, relieving the headache and other symptoms caused by this problem.

You must have a prescription to buy Rizatriptan. 

What is Rizatriptan used to treat?

Rizatriptan is one of the most prescribed medications for migraine treatment. Chiefly, it is prescribed to treat the headache stage of a migraine attack.

You should take this medicine at the onset of a migraine attack for best results. It will normally take around 30 minutes for Rizatriptan to relieve your symptoms.

Why is Rizatriptan recommended for migraines?

Clinical studies have concluded that Rizatriptan is a well-tolerated and effective medicine for the acute treatment of migraines. This means that it will get to work to provide sufficient relief from your symptoms and it is unlikely that you will suffer any side effects as a result of taking this medicine. 

How does Rizatriptan work?

A migraine is believed to occur when the blood vessels surrounding the brain start to swell, triggering pain and other symptoms. Rizatriptan works by reducing the swelling of the vessels around the brain, preventing pain messages from being sent to the brain, suppressing the production of a natural substance that causes pain, all of which helps to relieve the pain caused by a migraine headache.

Rizatriptan does not prevent a migraine attack from occurring and should not be taken as a preventative measure against migraines.

Who can take Rizatriptan?

Before taking Rizatriptan tablets, you should talk to your doctor if you have any of the below:

• You have any of the following heart disease risks: high blood pressure, you are a man over the age of 40, you have a family history of heart disease, you are a postmenopausal woman, you smoke or use any form of nicotine substitute
• You are over the age of 65
• You have an intolerance to certain sugars
• You have kidney problems
• You have liver problems
• You have a problem with how your heart beats (bundle branch block)
• You are allergic to rizatriptan or any other ingredients in the medication (see Ingredients tab)
• You have or have had any allergies
• You use any herbal remedies that contain St. John's Wort
• Your headache is related to dizziness, difficulty in walking, lack of coordination or weakness in the leg and arm
• You have any blockage problems in your arteries
• You have had a stroke or mini-stroke
• You have high blood pressure
• You have ever had any heart problems

Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive information on who may not be suitable to take Rizatriptan.

This medicine should not be taken by children who are under the age of 18.

Can you buy Rizatriptan over the counter?

Rizatriptan cannot be bought over the counter, it must be prescribed by a doctor.

Can you buy Rizatriptan online?

Rizatriptan is only available on prescription. To buy Rizatriptan online from Medicine Direct, you will need to fill out our online questionnaire to make sure this medicine is suitable for you to take. It should not be taken by anyone who has not been diagnosed with migraines by a doctor.

After you have completed our online questionnaire, one of our registered prescribers will review your answers. We sell Rizatriptan 10mg in packets of 3, 6, 9 or 12 tablets.

Order by 2pm for next day delivery.

Never buy any medicine online unless you are ordering from a registered pharmacy, like Medicine Direct.

Rizatriptan alternatives

Medicine Direct stocks a large variety of medicines for migraines. If Rizatriptan is not suitable for you to take, there are plenty of alternatives.

Various other triptan medicines, including Sumatriptan and Almotriptan, are available to buy from our online pharmacy after you have completed an online consultation questionnaire. These medicines work in the same way as Rizatriptan and are also prescription-only medicines (POMs).

Non-prescription alternatives include the likes of Migraleve Pink and Anadin Extra, which can also be ordered from our pharmacy after an online consultation.