From the Research
It's generally safe to take rizatriptan 2 hours after taking ibuprofen, as these medications work differently in the body and can be used together for migraine management. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that helps reduce pain and inflammation, while rizatriptan is a triptan that narrows blood vessels in the brain and blocks pain pathways. The 2-hour spacing helps ensure optimal absorption of both medications and reduces potential stomach irritation.
Key Considerations
- Always follow the prescribed dosing for rizatriptan (typically 5-10mg, not exceeding 30mg in 24 hours) and ibuprofen (usually 400-600mg every 6-8 hours, not exceeding 3200mg daily) 1.
- If you're taking ibuprofen regularly or at high doses, consult your healthcare provider before combining with rizatriptan 2.
- Some people find taking ibuprofen at the first sign of migraine and adding rizatriptan later if needed works well 3.
- Be aware of potential side effects like chest pain, severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing when combining these medications, and seek medical attention immediately if they occur 4, 5.
Additional Guidance
- The triptans, including rizatriptan, have minor differences in efficacy, headache recurrence, and adverse effects 5.
- Rizatriptan has a faster onset of action compared to sumatriptan, with a shorter time to maximum concentration (tmax) 5.
- The place of triptans compared to non-triptan drugs in migraine therapy remains to be established, and further research is needed 5.