Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Using too much rizatriptan may increase the chance of side effects.

Do not use this medicine for a headache that is not a migraine headache. Talk to your doctor about what to do for regular headaches.

This medicine usually comes with patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

To relieve your migraine as soon as possible, use this medicine as soon as the headache pain begins. Even if you get warning signals of a coming migraine (an aura), you should wait until the headache pain starts before using rizatriptan.

Lying down in a quiet, dark room for a while after you use this medicine may help relieve your migraine.

Ask your doctor ahead of time about any other medicine you may take if rizatriptan does not work. After you take the other medicine, check with your doctor as soon as possible. Headaches that are not relieved by rizatriptan are sometimes caused by conditions that need other treatment.

If you feel much better after a dose of rizatriptan, but your headache comes back or gets worse after a while, adults may use one additional dose of rizatriptan 2 hours after the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses in any 24-hour period. Do not use this medicine for more than 10 days in any 30-day period, unless your doctor tells you to.

Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Keep the orally disintegrating tablet in the blister pack inside the outer foil pouch until you are ready to take the medicine. Make sure your hands are dry and peel open the blister to remove the tablet. Place the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve. You do not need to drink water to swallow the dissolved tablet.

To use the film:

  • Do not open the aluminum pouch that contains the film until you are ready to take it.
  • Fold the pouch on the dotted line and tear it open.
  • Place the film on your tongue. It will dissolve in about 2 minutes and can be swallowed with saliva. No need to drink any liquid.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For migraine headaches:
    • For oral dosage form (film):
      • Adults—10 milligrams (mg) placed on the tongue as needed. If extra doses are needed, separate them by at least 2 hours. The maximum dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.
      • Children 12 years of age and older weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—10 mg placed on the tongue as needed.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 40 kg—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For oral dosage forms (orally disintegrating tablets and tablets):
      • Adults—At first, 5 or 10 milligrams (mg) as a single dose. If the migraine comes back after being relieved, another dose may be taken 2 hours after the last dose. Do not take more than 30 mg in any 24-hour period.
      • Children 6 years of age and older and weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 10 mg per day. Do not take more than one dose in any 24-hour period.
      • Children 6 years of age and older and weighing less than 40 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 mg per day. Do not take more than one dose in any 24-hour period.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.