From the Guidelines
The recommended dosage of Maxalt (rizatriptan) for treating migraine headaches is 5 mg or 10 mg taken as a single dose at the onset of migraine symptoms. According to the clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians 1, 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.
- Key considerations for treating migraine headaches include:
- Treating mild episodic migraine headache with an NSAID, acetaminophen, or the combination of an NSAID and acetaminophen
- Using CGRP antagonists-gepants or ergot alkaloid for moderate to severe acute episodic migraine headache in nonpregnant outpatient adults who do not tolerate or have inadequate response to combination therapy of a triptan and an NSAID or acetaminophen
- Avoiding opioids or butalbital for the treatment of acute episodic migraine
- When using rizatriptan, it is essential to counsel patients to begin treatment of migraine headache as soon as possible after its onset, using combination therapy to improve efficacy 1.
- Additionally, patients should be aware of medication overuse headache, which is a potential complication of migraine treatment, and defined as headache occurring on 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months in people with a preexisting headache disorder 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2.1 Dosing Information in Adults The recommended starting dose of rizatriptan benzoate tablets is either 5 mg or 10 mg for the acute treatment of migraines in adults. The 10-mg dose may provide a greater effect than the 5-mg dose, but may have a greater risk of adverse reactions [see Clinical Studies (14. 1)]. Redosing in Adults Although the effectiveness of a second dose or subsequent doses has not been established in placebo-controlled trials, if the migraine headache returns, a second dose may be administered 2 hours after the first dose. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 30 mg in any 24-hour period
The recommended dosage of Maxalt (rizatriptan) for treating migraine headaches in adults is either 5 mg or 10 mg. A second dose may be administered 2 hours after the first dose if the migraine headache returns, with a maximum daily dose of 30 mg in any 24-hour period 2.
- The 10-mg dose may have a greater effect, but also a greater risk of adverse reactions.
- The safety of treating more than four headaches in a 30-day period has not been established.
From the Research
Recommended Dosage of Maxalt (Rizatriptan) for Treating Migraine Headaches
The recommended dosage of Maxalt (rizatriptan) for treating migraine headaches is:
- 10 mg orally, which is more effective than the 5 mg dose 3, 4, 5
- The 10 mg dose is preferred due to its faster onset of action and higher efficacy 4, 5
Efficacy of Maxalt (Rizatriptan)
The efficacy of Maxalt (rizatriptan) in treating migraine headaches is:
- Rapid and consistent in relieving headache pain and associated migraine symptoms 3
- Effective in enabling patients to return to their normal activities of daily living 3
- Superior to sumatriptan 100 mg and 50 mg in terms of pain relief and other outcome measures 3
- Effective in treating intermittent moderate or severe migraine attacks occurring over periods of up to 6 months 5
Tolerability of Maxalt (Rizatriptan)
The tolerability of Maxalt (rizatriptan) is:
- Well-tolerated, with common side-effects including dizziness, drowsiness, and asthenia/fatigue, which are short-lasting and of mild or moderate severity 3, 4, 6
- Generally well-tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events 5
- Similar in terms of efficacy and tolerability between Japanese and other races 7