From the Research
For a 15-year-old male with migraines requiring triptan therapy, rizatriptan is recommended at a dose of 10 mg orally as needed for migraine attacks, based on its efficacy in providing faster pain relief and a higher percentage of patients with an absence of pain and normal functional ability at 2 hours compared to other triptans 1. The medication should be taken at the first sign of migraine headache. If symptoms persist after 2 hours, a second dose may be taken, but doses should be separated by at least 2 hours.
- Key considerations for triptan therapy in adolescents include:
- Evaluation for cardiovascular risk factors before starting therapy, as triptans are contraindicated in patients with certain cardiovascular conditions
- Limiting triptan use to no more than 2-3 days per week to avoid medication overuse headaches
- Monitoring for common side effects, such as chest tightness, fatigue, and dizziness
- The effectiveness of triptans in adolescents is based on their ability to target serotonin receptors, reducing inflammation and constricting blood vessels in the brain that contribute to migraine pain 2, 1.
- Alternative triptans, such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, may also be considered, but rizatriptan 10 mg has been shown to be more effective in some studies 1, 3.