Maxalt 10mg Tablets
1. What Maxalt is and what it is used for
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER Maxalt® 10mg Tablets
(rizatriptan)
Your medicine is known as the above but it will be referred to as
Maxalt throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
This product is also available in multiple strengths and all strengths
will be referred to throughout this leaflet.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this
medicine, because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Maxalt is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Maxalt
3. How to take Maxalt
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Maxalt
6. Contents of the pack and the other information
Maxalt belongs to a class of medicines called selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists.
Maxalt is used to treat the headache phase of the migraine attack in adults.
Other medicines and Maxalt
Do not take Maxalt
• if you are already taking a 5-HT1B/1D agonist (sometimes referred to as 'triptans'), such as sumatriptan, naratriptan or zolmitriptan.
• if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as moclobemide, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, linezolid, or pargyline or if it has been less than two weeks since you stopped taking an MAO inhibitor.
• if you use ergotamine-type medications such as ergotamine or dihydro-ergotamine to treat your migraine.
• if you use methysergide to prevent a migraine attack.
The above listed medicines when taken with Maxalt may increase the risk of side effects.
You should wait at least 6 hours after taking Maxalt before you take ergotamine-type medications such as ergotamine or dihydro-ergotamine or methysergide.
You should wait at least 24 hours after taking ergotamine-type medications before taking Maxalt.
Ask your doctor for instructions and the risks about taking Maxalt
• if you are taking propranolol (see section 3: How to take Maxalt).
• if you are taking SSRIs such as sertraline, escitalopram oxalate, and fluoxetine or SNRIs such as venlafaxine, and duloxetine for depression.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Maxalt with food and drink
Maxalt can take longer to work if it is taken after food. Although it is better to take it on an empty stomach, you can still take it if you have eaten.
2. What you need to know before you take Maxalt
3. How to take Maxalt
T reatment with Maxalt:
Reduces swelling of blood vessels surrounding the brain. This swelling results in the headache pain of a migraine attack.
Do not take Maxalt if:
• you are allergic to rizatriptan benzoate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• you have moderately severe or severe high blood pressure or mild high blood pressure that is not controlled by medication
• you have or have ever had heart problems including heart attack or pain on the chest (angina) or you have experienced heart disease related signs
• you have severe liver or severe kidney problems
• you have had a stroke (cerebrovascular accident CVA) or mini stroke (transient ischaemic attack TIA)
• you have blockage problems with your arteries (peripheral vascular disease)
• you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as moclobemide, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, or pargyline (drugs against depression), or linezolid (an antibiotic), or if it has been less than two weeks since you stopped taking MAO inhibitors
• you are now taking ergotamine-type medications, such as ergotamine or dihydro-ergotamine to treat your migraine or methysergide to prevent a migraine attack
• you are taking any other drug in the same class, such as sumatriptan, naratriptan, or zolmitriptan to treat your migraine (see Other medicines and Maxalt below).
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you talk to your doctor
or pharmacist before taking Maxalt.
Warnings and precautions
Before you take Maxalt, tell your doctor or pharmacist, if:
• you have any of the following risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, diabetes, you smoke or you are using nicotine substitution, your family has a history of heart disease, you are a man over 40 years of age, or you are a postmenopausal woman
• you have kidney or liver problems
• you have a particular problem with the way your heart beats (bundle branch block)
• you have or have had any allergies
• your headache is associated with dizziness, difficulty in walking, lack of co-ordination or weakness in the leg and arm
• you use herbal preparation containing St. John's wort
• you have had allergic reaction like swelling of face, lips, tongue and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing and/or swallowing (angioedema)
• you are taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline, escitalopram oxalate, and fluoxetine or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine, and duloxetine for depression
• you have had short lived symptoms including chest pain and tightness.
If you take Maxalt too often this may result in you getting a chronic headache. In such cases you should contact your doctor as you may have to stop taking Maxalt.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist about your symptoms. Your doctor will decide if you have migraine. You should take Maxalt only for a migraine attack. Maxalt should not be used to treat headaches that might be caused by other, more serious conditions.
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken, or plan to take, any other medicines including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines and those you normally take for a migraine. This is because Maxalt can affect the way some medicines work. Also, other medicines can affect Maxalt.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
It is not known whether Maxalt is harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. Breastfeeding should be avoided for 24 hours after treatment.
Children and adolescents
The use of Maxalt tablets in children under 18 years of age is not recommended.
Use in patients older than 65 years
There have been no full studies to look at how safe and effective Maxalt is amongst patients older than 65 years.
Driving or using machines
You may feel sleepy or dizzy while taking Maxalt. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Maxalt contains lactose monohydrate
The 5-mg tablet contains 30.25 mg of lactose monohydrate and the 10-mg tablet contains 60.50 mg of lactose monohydrate. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Maxalt is used to treat migraine attacks. Take Maxalt as soon as possible after your migraine headache has started. Do not use it to prevent an attack.
Always take Maxalt exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or your pharmacist if you are not sure.
The usual dose is 10 mg.
If you are currently taking propranolol or have kidney or liver problems you should use the 5-mg dose of Maxalt. You should leave at least 2 hours between taking propranolol and Maxalt up to a maximum of 2 doses in a 24-hour period.
Maxalt (rizatriptan benzoate) tablets should be taken by mouth and swallowed whole with liquid.
Maxalt is also available as a 10-mg oral lyophilisate that dissolves in the mouth. The oral lyophilisate can be used in situations in which liquids are not available, or to avoid the nausea and vomiting that may accompany the ingestion of tablets with liquids.
If migraine returns within 24 hours
In some patients, migraine symptoms can return within a 24-hour period. If your migraine does return you can take an additional dose of Maxalt. You should always wait at least 2 hours between doses.
If after 2 hours you still have a migraine
If you do not respond to the first dose of Maxalt during an attack, you should not take a second dose of Maxalt for treatment of the same attack. It is still likely, however, that you will respond to Maxalt during the next attack.
Do not take more than 2 doses of Maxalt in a 24-hour period, (for example, do not take more than two 10-mg or 5-mg tablets or oral lyophilisate in a 24-hour period). You should always wait at least 2 hours between doses.
If your condition worsens, seek medical attention.
