From the Guidelines
Rizatriptan 10 mg should be taken at the first sign of a migraine headache, with a maximum dosage of 30 mg per day. The medication can be taken as a traditional tablet, swallowed whole with water, or as an orally disintegrating tablet (Maxalt-MLT), which dissolves on the tongue without needing water 1. It is essential to take only one dose initially and wait at least two hours before taking a second dose if the migraine returns after initial relief.
Important Administration Directions
- Take one dose initially
- Wait at least two hours between doses if a second dose is needed
- Do not take more than 30 mg (three 10 mg tablets) in a 24-hour period
- Avoid taking rizatriptan within 24 hours of other triptan medications or ergot-containing drugs
Special Precautions
- Consult a doctor before using this medication if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, liver problems, or are taking certain antidepressants (particularly MAOIs) 1
- Rizatriptan should not be taken preventatively or for tension headaches
- The medication works by narrowing blood vessels in the brain and reducing substances that trigger migraine pain and other symptoms 1
From the FDA Drug Label
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 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 administration directions for rizatriptan 10 mg are as follows:
- The recommended starting dose for adults is 10 mg for the acute treatment of migraines.
- If the migraine headache returns, a second dose of 10 mg may be administered 2 hours after the first dose.
- The maximum daily dose should not exceed 30 mg in any 24-hour period 2
From the Research
Administration Directions for Rizatriptan 10 mg
- The recommended dose of rizatriptan is 10 mg, taken orally with water [ 3 ].
- Rizatriptan 10 mg can be taken at the earliest sign of a migraine headache, while pain is still mild [ 4 ].
- The medication can be administered with or without food, but it is recommended to take it on an empty stomach for faster absorption [ 5 ].
Dosage and Frequency
- The maximum recommended dose of rizatriptan is 10 mg per dose, and it should not be taken more than once in 24 hours [ 6 ].
- If the migraine headache recurs, a second dose of rizatriptan 10 mg can be taken, but only after at least 2 hours have passed since the first dose [ 7 ].