From the Guidelines
Rizatriptan can cause several side effects, including tachycardia, bradycardia, throat tightness, and closure, as reported in the study published in the American Family Physician 1. The most common side effects of rizatriptan are:
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Throat tightness
- Closure These side effects are likely due to the mechanism of action of rizatriptan, which involves narrowing blood vessels in the brain and affecting certain neurotransmitters to relieve migraine symptoms. It's worth noting that the choice of a specific triptan, such as rizatriptan, should be based on individualized decision making, taking into consideration patient preferences on such factors as route of administration and cost, as recommended in the clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians 1. In general, patients should be aware of the potential side effects of rizatriptan and seek immediate medical attention if they experience severe side effects, especially chest pain that spreads to the jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness, or severe headache. Additionally, patients should be counseled to begin treatment of migraine headache as soon as possible after its onset, using combination therapy (such as a triptan with an NSAID or acetaminophen) to improve efficacy, as recommended in the clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Rizatriptan benzoate tablets may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you think you are having any of the serious side effects of rizatriptan benzoate tablets including: Heart attack Stroke. Blood vessel problems Serotonin syndrome. The most common side effects of rizatriptan benzoate tablets in adults include: Feeling sleepy or tired Pain or pressure in your chest or throat Dizziness
The possible side effects of rizatriptan include:
- Serious side effects: heart attack, stroke, blood vessel problems, serotonin syndrome
- Common side effects: feeling sleepy or tired, pain or pressure in the chest or throat, dizziness These side effects are based on the information provided in the drug labels 2, 2, and 2.
From the Research
Side Effects of Rizatriptan
The most common adverse events associated with rizatriptan are:
- Asthenia/fatigue
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Nausea 3 These adverse events are usually mild and transient.
Comparison with Other Triptans
Rizatriptan has a more rapid onset of action than sumatriptan and naratriptan 4. The incidence of adverse events with rizatriptan is higher than with naratriptan, but lower than with zolmitriptan 3. Rizatriptan and sumatriptan have been found to have a higher efficiency in treating migraine in pediatric patients, with rizatriptan having a good tolerability profile at a dose of 5 mg 5.
Specific Adverse Events
Some specific adverse events reported with rizatriptan include: