Rizatriptan and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2020

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt works. Sometimes I still feel a pounding in my head, but it doesn't hurt. Unfortunately, it does make me insanely tired, where I cannot stay awake. Thirty minutes after taking it, if I try to stay awake, I get woozy, can't walk straight, and can't talk well. Usually resolves after two hours, but most of the time I can't stay awake and sleep for those two hours instead. Usually takes another hour for the grogginess to go away. Makes it hard to take during work hours. I will also get soreness in my muscles, which makes it difficult to work out later in the day. But hey, it works and is better than nothing!"

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2008

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Migraine, the word can’t convey the impact on life. For me, a typical one lasted about 36 hours, followed by another 24 hours of “hangover.” Somewhere during the 36-hour duration, there would be 12 hours of hell. I’ve used Maxalt-MLT about 10-12 times over the last 6 months. It has worked every time; I take one when I sense a migraine is starting, and it just doesn’t “blossom.” I have no side effects, no nausea, and no drowsiness. Sometime in the next 20-30 minutes, I’ll realize the apprehension, tension, and other precursors to the migraine have just disappeared. Migraines took too much of my life, and at their worst, pushed depression to the edge of suicide; it’s good to have a normal life back."

• shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2013

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I have tried different medicines for migraines, all just calmed it down a little. It just had to run its three-day duration. I'm seeing another doctor, and she put me on Maxalt yesterday. My migraine was gone within an hour of taking it. I just want to go back and hug her because, after five years of trying, I just accepted my pain. It made me drowsy, but I will take drowsy over pain any day."

• Ima...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 28, 2016

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I've had ever-worsening migraines since I was in my 40s (I'm now 73). When they started, all that was available were drugs like Fiorinal and other mind-scrambling drugs. Finally, the triptans came along and saved my life. I started with Imitrex and tried the various other triptans, but Maxalt was the most effective. I would like to share one important observation: When I first started taking triptans, I had very few side effects and was able to function at a high-level job, run home with kids, etc. HOWEVER, as I got older, I realized that side effects emerged which have only gotten stronger over time. e.g. fogginess, sleepiness, nausea, etc. -- so be aware that side effects can increase with age. Still, Maxalt is a life-saver."

• Mmc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2016

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I have had migraines since I was 11. When people say they are not hereditary... they are wrong. My grandma, mom, sisters, and brothers all have them, they did not even skip a generation... My daughter and nieces as well get them. My physician calls mine sinus migraines. I get stomach pain, vomiting, an aura, light sensitivity. They had me on Demerol, Percocet, Phenergan, Imitrex, nothing helped. I have been on Maxalt a few years, and the one thing I have noticed is that I get pain around the upper jaw area just under the ear... then, all of a sudden, like the snap of a finger, all pain is gone in 15 to 25 minutes. It makes me drowsy. I wake up from my nap feeling great but really thirsty."

• Dan...
• July 22, 2020

For Migraine "This medication is amazing! It is the only med that has touched my monthly migraines, which are debilitating. I will continue to use this in the future. I told my husband this is a miracle pill for me. I wish I would have discovered it 20 years ago. The only side effect is sleeping well at night. During the day, a bit drowsy, but no big deal."

• jjo...
• August 25, 2008

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I've tried many prescriptions for migraines. Maxalt is the only thing that works for me 99% of the time (I can't remember the last time I had to take a second dose for it to take effect). Within 1 hour of taking it, my migraine goes away. Nothing else comes close to this effectiveness for me. I normally do get one side effect - but it's one I've actually come to welcome. It makes me drowsy - but after having a migraine, I look forward to going to sleep as fast as possible and just sleep away the migraine as the medicine works its way through my system."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2023

Rizatriptan for Migraine "This medication really is a miracle drug for me. I've been taking it as needed for about 15 years now, and it never lets me down. I try to take it at the first sign of a migraine, but even if I don't catch it early, I still usually get total relief within an hour. The only side effect I get is slight drowsiness, but it's not bad enough to prevent me from going to work or driving, which is a big plus. I honestly don't know what I'd do without this medication, as nothing OTC has helped me."

• Laz...
• April 19, 2009

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt almost always gets rid of my migraine with one pill. It does make me sleepy, so I take it near bedtime. When I wake up, I am groggy for up to 6 hours. That is the only side effect I have experienced. If I am having what I call a migraine marathon (up to five days), I alternate taking Maxalt and Imitrex."

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2009

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt-MLT has been the only migraine medication that didn't give me most of the common side effects. My migraines don't often come with warning signs, like the 'auras.' My left temple just starts to throb, and I know I have about an hour before the pain has me hiding in the dark, wishing my skull would just go ahead and split open. Maxalt works within the hour (at least to head off the really awful pain - sometimes I need to take another one in a few hours to completely erase the headache), and I can get on with my day. The only side effect I've ever noticed is if I take one and then lie down, I'll sleep for a couple of hours. But if I'm up and around or out and about, I can keep going just fine. But I can say the same thing about Benadryl."

• sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2022

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt made me very, very ill. It was to replace Imitrex, which makes me ill too, but better than this any day! Dizzy, drowsy, nauseated, hot flashes, so tired I can't keep my eyes open and numb. My feet go numb and my hands. It's horrible, and the headache returns in about 5 hours. Do not recommend if you are sensitive to medications!"

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2012

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I have suffered from migraines since an auto accident in 2009, sometimes as many as 15 a month. I was prescribed Maxalt this past year (after trying a whole bag of other medicines). It has given me my life back... within thirty minutes after taking Maxalt, the symptoms decrease by 50% and are gone within an hour. Several side effects, very drowsy and increased nausea, but after several hours of sleep, all is good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 26, 2012

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt-MLT usually starts working in 30 to 45 minutes for me. Within an hour, I'm able to continue my day. I have very frequent migraines and have used Maxalt for many years. No real side effects except a bit of drowsiness. And it is very expensive. Insurance does not cover the whole cost."

• cou...
• August 31, 2011

Rizatriptan for Migraine "To me, this is the ONE medicine I cannot live without. I have had to try others due to insurance, and none comes even close! Within 15-30, even the strongest, wanting to smash my head-in migraine will be totally gone! No side effects for me either. Never makes me tired, groggy, or the medicated feeling. Taken on an empty stomach while in college class and had no problems finishing the class and going home to play with the kids and not the mom who was hiding in a dark room with no noise allowed in the house."

• Sar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2016

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I've had migraines since I was 11 and was first prescribed Maxalt when I was 17. It's wonderful. I take it as soon as I start to notice the signs of a migraine, and about 70% of the time the first dose does the job within an hour or less. Occasionally, I take a second dose if the symptoms haven't gone after 2-3 hours. Very occasionally, it doesn't work at all. It has improved my life enormously. I evangelize about it. My migraines used to last up to 3 days - now I get an unkillable one only once or twice a year. Side effects for me are (as someone else has mentioned) one sneeze within a few minutes of taking it, a little drowsiness, and eventually a little euphoria (though maybe that's a rational response to knowing the migraine has gone)."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2011

Rizatriptan for Migraine "Maxalt has saved me from migraines. It tends to make me a little drowsy, but that is a plus for me. I just lay down to take a nap, and when I wake up, the migraine is gone. This is also a plus at night as I could not sleep with migraines. The pounding and the pain would keep me up all night. Highly recommend this to anyone suffering from migraines. The drowsiness is not so bad that if I needed to stay awake, I would be unable to."

• Ano...
• April 5, 2014

For Migraine "I've been taking Maxalt for about 10 years, since it was first introduced. It is a wonderful medicine that got rid of my migraines within 10 minutes, and the first thing to ever work for me, and it had no side effects other than some mild lightheadedness for a couple of minutes. I was very happy when a generic form was introduced, but the generic is truly terrible. It makes me fall asleep for 4-6 hours, and if I manage to stay awake, I slur my speech and feel terrible. The migraine usually comes back. I've gone back to name brand Maxalt. I don't see the point of a cheaper generic with side effects so bad that I can't even go to work."

• CBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2019

For Migraine "I tried rizatriptan 10 mg for the first time 2 hours ago when I started with aura affecting my sight, so I knew a migraine was coming. It made me feel a bit weird and faint at first, so I laid down. My hands and feet felt cold. After about 45 minutes, my vision was back to normal, and I then started with numbness in my hands and then in my face and tongue - these are usual side effects of a migraine for me, so I’m guessing this was a side effect of the migraine, not the drug. The pain in my head then started. After about 90 minutes after taking rizatriptan, I was functioning with very little pain in my head, just a groggy feeling. The fact I am writing this 2 hours after starting with a migraine is great. I hope that when I use this drug in the future, the effects are similar, as my migraine symptoms have been much more severe in the past."

• tkl...
• September 4, 2019

For Migraine "I've had migraines for 30+ years, since I was a child. No med has ever stopped one, including hospital-injected opiates, and they last 3-5 days. NSAIDs and lots of ginger will reduce the pain a little. I've been trying rizatriptan for a few weeks, and it's promising! It doesn't 100% kill the migraine, but it greatly reduces it. That is absolutely a miracle for me. It is quite sedating, but that only lasts about 2 hours, and coffee helps (I don't think I would drive right after taking one). I do feel a bit tired the next day. Downside: it tastes so gross. Like cloyingly sweet toothpaste mixed with aspartame. Migraines make me nauseated, so I have to struggle to not throw up from the taste, but at least the meltable format means I can't throw it up as I often do with pills. I just wish the melts were unflavored and tasted like medicine. Also, aspartame is a known migraine trigger! I think that may be why it's only partially helpful for me. But overall, I'm hopeful."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2016

Rizatriptan for Migraine "I have suffered from migraines since I was 19 (now 23). My migraines were debilitating and caused me to miss a lot of school, so my doctor prescribed me Maxalt. Maxalt almost always cures my migraines within 1-2 hours! The relief is long-lasting; one dose and I am usually pain-free for an entire day. For me, side effects are infrequent and usually very minor (sleepiness, dizziness, “foggy brain”). To elaborate on the “foggy brain” side effect, post-headache I would sometimes experience a feeling of euphoria combined with a difficulty concentrating. Usually, this is not a big deal, but if I was taking an exam, it would slightly affect my performance and concentration. Overall, a great medication that has improved my quality of life!"

• jby...
• August 19, 2008

Rizatriptan for Migraine "When I first started taking Maxalt-MLT several years ago, it was a wonder drug; my headaches were gone within minutes with no side effects. Lately, I've noticed that I get a little groggy after I've taken it, and it also takes longer for it to work. Sometimes, I have to take a second dose after two hours before it works. That's still better than having a migraine, though!"

• Bea...
• September 28, 2019

For Migraine "This medication is great for my migraines and knocks them out, but the side effects often leave me scared. To begin with, I’m always knocked out in about 20 minutes, as it makes me extremely sleepy. So this is not a pill I can just pop in at work when I feel a migraine coming up. It is inconvenient to only take it at home in bed. Right before I fall asleep comes the extremely burning feeling of my sinuses, pressure in my throat and chest, and my jaw feels like I’ve been in a beef jerky chewing marathon for weeks. It’s hard to explain how this all feels, but it’s scary, and I just end up looking forward to falling asleep. I usually wake up refreshed with no headache. I got these same side effects when I took sumatriptans and asked my doctor to change it. She gave me rizatriptan, and I just pretty much felt helpless. Some days the side effects are worse than others, but I’m desperate enough to take the pill anyway because anything is better than the migraines."

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 12, 2019

For Migraine "Don't know what I'd do without it. I came across these comments when I Googled Maxalt + sneezing. It's just a funny little thing that happens - for me, I usually sneeze at the point where the medicine is working. Right around the time I feel my headache going away, I sneeze. Not right after I take it, like a few others have had. Just sneezed like 4 times, but also my horrible headache I woke up with this morning is officially GONE. Sneezing welcomed!! I'd rate Maxalt-rizatriptan a 9 and not a 10 only because it causes some drowsiness in me, but others I talked to said it did not for them. I can usually work through the drowsiness as it only lasts 30-60 minutes, and then the happiness of no migraine and more energy kicks in. The Maxalt was EXTREMELY expensive before the generic rizatriptan came out, so that is wonderful. Generic is just as wonderful."

• YNN...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 8, 2015

Rizatriptan for Migraine "When I first tried it, my migraine was relieved in about 30 minutes. Ten years later, it takes about 1 1/2 hours. Previously, my headache pain lasted about 16 hours. Nothing over the counter ever worked. No unusual short-term or long-term side effects. Can make me a little drowsy sometimes."

• Aps...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2015

For Migraine "I have been suffering from migraines for years, but the headaches started getting worse and last longer about a year ago, which prompted me to see a neurologist. He prescribed this wonder pill to me, and I am not afraid to sound cheesy saying that it changed my life for the better - suddenly I do not have to endure these debilitating headaches that sometimes last 3 days in a row. I did start off with Maxalt, but the price was prohibitive, and I switched to the generic form, which helps me just as well. It takes about an hour for it to work, and I often get extremely drowsy and need at least an hour's nap about an hour after taking the medicine. I have not experienced any other side effects."