Rizatriptan migraine tablets
"A highly effective treatment for migraine that you can combine with over-the-counter pain relief and anti-sickness medicines. You should get relief from migraine symptoms within around two hours."
What is Rizatriptan?
Rizatriptan is a highly effective migraine treatment in a choice of tablet or melt. We recommend using over-the-counter pain relief and anti-sickness medicines like Buccastem M alongside Rizatriptan.
How does it work?
Although no one knows for sure, one theory about migraines is that they’re caused by a widening (dilation) of your blood vessels. This creates swelling and pressure, leading to pain and other symptoms like seeing patterns, lights and spots.
Rizatriptan restricts this blood vessel widening.
It’s thought that another cause of migraines could be an increase in certain chemicals in the brain. This generates confusing brain signals, leading to migraine symptoms.
Rizatriptan restricts the release of these brain chemicals.
How to use Rizatriptan
When you feel your migraine headache beginning, take one tablet with water. If the water is fizzy, the treatment can get to work faster.
Don’t take Rizatriptan while you’re getting the visual symptoms of migraine (aura). Let this stage pass first.
Rizatriptan lyophilisate melts in your mouth, so there’s no need for water. If your migraine improves but then comes back, you can take the same dose again after 2 hours.
Important:
- Don’t take more than 20mg Rizatriptan in 24 hours.
- Don’t mix Rizatriptan with any other ‘triptan’ medication to treat the same migraine attack.
Treatment results
You should see an improvement in your migraine symptoms within around two hours of taking Rizatriptan.
Side effects of Rizatriptan
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when taking Rizatriptan. These include feeling drowsy or dizzy, a racing heart, nausea and vomiting, or a dry mouth. You could get stiff muscles or joints, sleep less well or get headaches.
Less common side effects include pain or tightness in your chest. If it’s severe chest pain that doesn’t pass quickly, seek urgent medical help.
There are some more serious side effects like irregular heart rhythms, seizures, tremors, severe allergic reactions, or visual disturbances. But these are very rare.
For full details of correct use and the possible side effects, see the Rizatriptan patient information leaflet. If you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
Fast, effective treatment for migraine
Take as tablets or melt in the mouth wafers
Ask your doctor about combining with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin
What is Rizatriptan?
Rizatriptan is a highly effective migraine treatment in a choice of tablet or melt. We recommend using over-the-counter pain relief and anti-sickness medicines like Buccastem M alongside Rizatriptan.
How does it work?
Although no one knows for sure, one theory about migraines is that they’re caused by a widening (dilation) of your blood vessels. This creates swelling and pressure, leading to pain and other symptoms like seeing patterns, lights and spots.
Rizatriptan restricts this blood vessel widening.
It’s thought that another cause of migraines could be an increase in certain chemicals in the brain. This generates confusing brain signals, leading to migraine symptoms.
Rizatriptan restricts the release of these brain chemicals.
How to use Rizatriptan
When you feel your migraine headache beginning, take one tablet with water. If the water is fizzy, the treatment can get to work faster.
Don’t take Rizatriptan while you’re getting the visual symptoms of migraine (aura). Let this stage pass first.
Rizatriptan lyophilisate melts in your mouth, so there’s no need for water. If your migraine improves but then comes back, you can take the same dose again after 2 hours.
Important:
- Don’t take more than 20mg Rizatriptan in 24 hours.
- Don’t mix Rizatriptan with any other ‘triptan’ medication to treat the same migraine attack.
Treatment results
You should see an improvement in your migraine symptoms within around two hours of taking Rizatriptan.
Side effects of Rizatriptan
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when taking Rizatriptan. These include feeling drowsy or dizzy, a racing heart, nausea and vomiting, or a dry mouth. You could get stiff muscles or joints, sleep less well or get headaches.
Less common side effects include pain or tightness in your chest. If it’s severe chest pain that doesn’t pass quickly, seek urgent medical help.
There are some more serious side effects like irregular heart rhythms, seizures, tremors, severe allergic reactions, or visual disturbances. But these are very rare.
For full details of correct use and the possible side effects, see the Rizatriptan patient information leaflet. If you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.
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Rizatriptan migraine tablets FAQs
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How long does Rizatriptan take to work?
The medication should start to work within around 30 minutes.
When to take Rizatriptan
You should take Rizatriptan as soon as you start to feel a migraine headache. Don’t use it every day or you can develop a headache from medication overuse. If your headache worsens significantly, or you start to get any unusual symptoms, speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
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Rizatriptan tablet dosages
Rizatriptan comes in 5mg and 10mg tablets. 10mg tablets are usually recommended, often reduced to 5mg if you’re also taking propranolol.
Never take more than 20mg of Rizatriptan in 24 hours.
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Where can I buy Rizatriptan?
Rizatriptan is a prescription-only medicine.
Complete our online consultation questionnaire and we'll make sure it’s the right treatment for you. If approved, we’ll prescribe the right dosage for you and deliver discreetly to your door or nearest Well pharmacy.
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How to store Rizatriptan
Rizatriptan doesn’t need any special storage conditions but, as ever, you should keep it out of sight and reach of children.
Use the medicine before the last day of the month shown on the box after ‘EXP’.
Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer need. To help protect the environment, never dispose of any medicines down sinks or drains, or in household waste.
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Alternative treatments to Rizatriptan
There are other medications we can prescribe for your migraines. For example, Sumatriptan or Vydura could be better for your needs. If you get migraines regularly, Vydura can also be prescribed to help prevent them.
Rizatriptan and other medication
As with all medications, Rizatriptan can interact with other medicines which could be dangerous. So, to make sure we can prescribe Rizatriptan safely, it's important you let us know which prescription, over the counter, and any recreational drugs you’re already taking.
Combining Rizatriptan with other medications
For maximum relief, you may be able to take Rizatriptan with other treatments.
Can I take Rizatriptan with Paracetamol?
You should be able to take two 500mg Paracetamol tablets up to four times daily alongside Rizatriptan.
Can I take Rizatriptan with Ibuprofen?
While taking Rizatriptan you should be able to take two 400mg Ibuprofen tablets up to three times daily. Your doctor may prescribe ibuprofen up to four times a day, but this should only happen with their supervision.
Anti-sickness
You should be able to take Buccastem M 3mg tablets up to two times daily alongside Rizatriptan. As you don't have to swallow the tablets, they’re particularly good if your migraine is making you vomit. They go under your lip.
Never combine Rizatriptan with other medications without first speaking to your doctor.
