About Maxalt
Maxalt is prescribed to stop or reduce the pain and debilitating
symptoms of migraine
attacks at their onset. Maxalt has no effect on other types
of pain, and does not treat tension headaches, cluster headaches,
or certain rare types of migraine. Also, while Maxalt is a
highly effective migraine treatment, it doesn't work for everyone.
A failure to respond to Maxalt (or other triptan) treatment
is not the same as a negative diagnosis for migraine.
Do not use this medication if you have basilar or hemiplegic
migraines.
Your doctor may prescribe Maxalt in combination with a headache
reduction therapy, as Maxalt does not prevent or reduce the
number of attacks. If you experience more than one migraine
per week on a regular basis, you should ask about preventive
therapy, such as low-dose antidepressants, beta blockers,
or calcium channel blockers. The frequent use of treatments
for migraine attack may cause additional rebound headaches,
and recurring migraines may indicate other problems that should
be ruled out.
Often, people find that even if Maxalt doesn't completely stop
a migraine, it will often reduce the pain and secondary symptoms
(nausea, light and noise sensitivity, etc.) to a manageable level.
As Maxalt is not a barbiturate or a narcotic, it very rarely causes
drowsiness or other side effects that interfere with your normal
functioning, and does not appear to have abuse potential.
Maxalt works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain,
which has been shown to dip during migraine attacks. It also seems
to affect contraction in the blood vessels which is associated with
migraine pain, but because of this is not suitable for some individuals
with a history of heart or artery disease.
Maxalt is only available by prescription.
Maxalt Side Effects
If you feel dizzy or fatigued after your migraine, or after taking
Maxalt, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you feel
better.
More Common Maxalt Side Effects: Altered sense of taste,
aversion to light (may be a symptom of migraine attack), discomfort
in jaw, mouth, tongue, throat, nose, or sinuses, cold or warm sensation,
dizziness, drowsiness, heat, infection of the upper respiratory
tract, numbness, tightness or tingling, feeling pressure, feeling
strange or weak, flushing, lightheadedness, muscle aches or cramps,
stiffness, vertigo, nausea or vomiting. Check with your doctor if
these persist or are bothersome.
Less Common or Rare Maxalt Side Effects: Agitation,
altered sense of smell, anxiety, constipation, dehydration,
depression, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, difficulty
urinating or frequent urination, feeling of well-being, fainting,
hearing problems, heart attack (usu. in those with preexisting
conditions), infection of lower respiratory tract (pneumonia),
menstrual pain, myocardial ischemia (usu. in those with preexisting
conditions), stinging or burning sensation, sweating, stroke,
tearing, thirst, tremors, visual disturbances.
Stop taking Maxalt and speak to your doctor soon if the
following rare side effects occur: Heaviness, pain, or tightness
in chest or neck, racing heartbeat, skin rash, hives, itching, difficulty
swallowing.
Contact Emergency Services if these rare side effects
occur: Severe chest pain, color change in the face, puffiness
or swelling around eyes or in face, difficulty breathing,
shooting pain in left arm, wheezing.
Cautions: Maxalt may
not be suitable for everyone, and some people may need careful
monitoring if they are to use Maxalt. Discuss any history
of the following conditions with your doctor, some are contraindications
for use, particularly cardiovascular conditions:
- Angina (chest pain)
- Blood vessel disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Fast, irregular pulse
- High blood pressure (untreated)
- Ischemic heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stroke - increased chance of side effects with Maxalt
Maxalt has sometimes caused dangerous side effects in people with circulatory system problems. Make sure that your doctor checks for these conditions before starting treatment.
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Maxalt Interactions
Taking Maxalt in combination with the following medications could
result in unwanted interactions or increase the effect of one of
the medications. Since these reactions could be dangerous, be sure
to talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage or discontinuing
treatment if you take any of the following medications.
- Alcohol - Alcoholic beverages can cause or worsen a headache.
Try to avoid these, especially during an attack.
- Effexor (venlafaxine)
- Combination may result in weakness and poor coordination,
do not use Maxalt during Effexor treatment.
- Ergotamine based migraine treatments such as DHE 45 injections,
Cafergot, Ergostat, Migranal nasal spray, or Sansert, should
not be used within 24 hours of using Maxalt.
- Inderal (propranolol)
- This medication may greatly increase blood levels of rizatriptan,
speak with your doctor.
- MAO inhibitors - Maxalt must never be mixed with MAO (monoamine
oxidase) inhibitors such as the antidepressants Eldepryl
(selegiline), Furoxone (furazolidone), Nardil (phenelzine),
Marplan (isocarboxazid), Matulane (procarbazine), or Parnate
(tranylcypromine). Never use Maxalt within 2 weeks of
stopping an MAO inhibitor, and do not start using an MAO
inhibitor within two weeks of stopping Maxalt. This
drug interaction could prove dangerous.
- Migraine medications of the same class (triptans) as Maxalt
such as Amerge (naratriptan), Imitrex
(sumatriptan), or Zomig (zolmitriptan), should not be
used within 24 hours of each other.
- Oral contraceptives - May slow the removal of Maxalt from
the body, but are not generally a contraindication for treatment.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa
(citalopram), Paxil
(paroxetine), Prozac
(fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), or Zoloft
(sertraline).
- Tryptophan or 5-HTP supplements should not be used with
Maxalt. They may be found in amino acid supplements or by
themselves, and could dangerously increase serotonin levels
when taken in combination with Maxalt.
Maxalt may safely be used with tricyclic antidepressants (such
as Sinequan [doxepin] or Elavil [amitriptyline]) when they
are prescribed as a long term migraine reduction therapy.
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Maxalt Dosages
Maxalt is available in the following forms:
Maxalt Directions
Take Maxalt as soon as you start feeling pain. Maxalt will probably
not stop a headache if it's taken during the aura phase, but can
be taken at any time after the pain begins.
If you do not feel better 2-4 hours after taking the tablet form,
do not take more Maxalt for this attack. If the pain goes away but
then comes back later, you can take another dose four hours after
the first. Maxalt may not work for every migraine, so discuss an
alternative pain treatment for those occasions with your doctor.
If your headaches get worse, or if Maxalt has not worked for three
headaches in a row, talk with your doctor. Take a maximum of
two tablets per day.
Maxalt should only be taken at the time of an attack. It
should not be taken daily or rebound migraines may begin to occur.
If you find yourself using Maxalt more than 2-3 times per week,
speak to your doctor about preventive therapy, or about trying a
different preventive therapy.
Swallow Maxalt tablets whole, do not break them. The orally
disintegrating form should be held in the mouth until dissolved.
Keep out of reach of children. Store tablets in a dry place, avoid
storing in a bathroom or near a sink, keep away from light and heat.
discard unused or out of date medication safely.
Maxalt and Pregnancy
Maxalt has not been studied in pregnancy. Animal studies indicate that a dose sufficient to harm the fetus would also harm the mother.
Maxalt does pass into breast milk, its effects on newborns are unknown.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss your Maxalt treatment with your doctor.
Maxalt and Children
Maxalt has not been studied in individuals under 18.
Maxalt and Seniors
Maxalt has been studied in a small number of adults over 65 and did not appear to have different side effects. Still, no conclusive studies have been carried out on the effects of Maxalt in elderly patients.
Certain health problems, more common in the elderly, are contraindications for Maxalt treatment.
Maxalt is a trademark of Merck
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This document is provided for information only. It is not a substitute for consultation with a physician, either to diagnose symptoms or prescribe treatment. Any dosages mentioned are general guidelines only, please follow the directions of your doctor or pharmacist exactly when taking medication. We have made every effort to ensure that this information is accurate, but only your doctor can say if a medication, or drug combination, is safe for you. Information intended for US residents only.
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