Rizatriptan
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Rizatriptan is a second-generation triptan for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. It has faster onset and higher consistency of response compared to sumatriptan in some studies. The orally disintegrating tablet (MLT) formulation is convenient for patients with migraine-associated nausea who have difficulty swallowing.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Rizatriptan is a second-generation triptan for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is 5-10 mg at migraine onset; may repeat after 2 hours if needed, max 30 mg/day. Use 5 mg dose if taking propranolol (as prescribed by your physician), though a prescriber sets the actual dose. This profile indexes 10 sources.
- Dizziness
- Somnolence and fatigue
- Chest tightness or pressure
- Ischemic coronary artery disease or coronary vasospasm
- Uncontrolled hypertension
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: rapid onset of action (as early as 30 minutes), orally disintegrating tablet for ease of use during migraine, high rate of 2-hour headache relief. 10 sources indexed (1998–2006), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Selectively binds to serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors. At 5-HT1B receptors on cranial blood vessels, it causes selective vasoconstriction. At 5-HT1D receptors on trigeminal sensory nerve endings, it inhibits release of vasoactive neuropeptides (CGRP, substance P) and reduces transmission of pain signals through the trigeminal nucleus caudalis.8
Dosing & protocol.
Rapidly absorbed with ~45% oral bioavailability; food delays Tmax by ~1 hour but does not significantly affect AUC. MLT formulation dissolves on the tongue without water.6
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Dizziness
- Somnolence and fatigue
- Chest tightness or pressure
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Paresthesia
- Serotonin syndrome (rare; risk increased with concurrent SSRIs, SNRIs, or TCAs)
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
1- 1Meta-analysis of rizatriptan efficacy in randomized controlled clinical trialsPMIDFerrari MD, Loder E, McCarroll KA et al. · Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache · 2001
Ferrari MD, Loder E, McCarroll KA et al.. Meta-analysis of rizatriptan efficacy in randomized controlled clinical trials. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache. 2001
Randomized controlled trials
3- 2A randomized trial of rizatriptan in migraine attacks in childrenPMIDAhonen K, Hämäläinen ML, Eerola M et al. · Neurology · 2006
Ahonen K, Hämäläinen ML, Eerola M et al.. A randomized trial of rizatriptan in migraine attacks in children. Neurology. 2006
- 3Lack of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between rizatriptan and paroxetinePMIDGoldberg MR, Lowry RC, Musson DG et al. · Journal of clinical pharmacology · 1999
Goldberg MR, Lowry RC, Musson DG et al.. Lack of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between rizatriptan and paroxetine. Journal of clinical pharmacology. 1999
- 4Rizatriptan (MAXALT) for the acute treatment of migraine and migraine recurrence. A placebo-controlled, outpatient study. Rizatriptan 022 Study GroupPMIDTeall J, Tuchman M, Cutler N et al. · Headache · 1998
Teall J, Tuchman M, Cutler N et al.. Rizatriptan (MAXALT) for the acute treatment of migraine and migraine recurrence. A placebo-controlled, outpatient study. Rizatriptan 022 Study Group. Headache. 1998
Reviews & position papers
1- 5Safety and tolerability of rizatriptanPMIDSakai F · Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache · 2000
Sakai F. Safety and tolerability of rizatriptan. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache. 2000
Reference material
5- 6Visser WH et al. Rizatriptan vs sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine: a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. Arch Neurol. 1996;53(11):1132-1137.Source linkedPMID
- 7Oldman AD et al. Rizatriptan for acute migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(1):CD003221.Source linkedPMID
- 8Ferrari MD et al. Oral triptans (serotonin 5-HT1B/1D agonists) in acute migraine treatment: a meta-analysis of 53 trials. Lancet. 2001;358(9294):1668-1675.Source linkedPMID
- 9Staab JP, Eggers SDZ, Jen JC et al.. Rizatriptan vs Placebo for Attacks of Vestibular Migraine: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA neurology. 2025Source linkedPMID
- 10Dooley M, Faulds D. Rizatriptan: a review of its efficacy in the management of migraine. Drugs. 1999Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Rizatriptan, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Rizatriptan?
Rizatriptan is a second-generation triptan for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. It has faster onset and higher consistency of response compared to sumatriptan in some studies. The orally disintegrating tablet (MLT) formulation is convenient for patients with migraine-associated nausea who have difficulty swallowing.
What is Rizatriptan used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Rizatriptan include: Rapid onset of action (as early as 30 minutes); Orally disintegrating tablet for ease of use during migraine; High rate of 2-hour headache relief; Effective for migraine-associated nausea and photophobia. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Rizatriptan?
A typical adult dose of Rizatriptan is 5-10 mg at migraine onset; may repeat after 2 hours if needed, max 30 mg/day. Use 5 mg dose if taking propranolol (as prescribed by your physician). The commonly recommended form is Orally disintegrating tablet (Maxalt-MLT) preferred for convenience; conventional tablets also available. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Rizatriptan?
Reported side effects include dizziness, somnolence and fatigue, chest tightness or pressure, nausea, dry mouth, paresthesia. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Rizatriptan?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Rizatriptan in NutriStack.
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