Rizatriptan Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 30, 2024.
Applies to the following strengths: 5 mg; 10 mg
Usual Adult Dose for:
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Migraine
Use only after a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established
Initial dose: 5 mg or 10 mg orally, once
- Provided there has been a response to first dose, a second dose may be administered at least 2 hours later if migraine returns
Comments:
- The 10 mg dose may provide greater effect, however there may be a greater risk of adverse reactions.
- This drug should not be used to treat basilar or hemiplegic migraines because these patients are at a greater risk of stroke.
- The safety of treating an average of 4 or more migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established; the effectiveness of a second dose or subsequent doses has not been established in placebo-controlled trials.
Use: For the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Migraine
Use only after a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established
6 years or older and weight less than 40 kg:
- Initial dose: 5 mg orally once
6 years or older and weight 40 kg or greater:
- Initial dose: 10 mg orally once
Maximum: 1 dose in any 24-hour period
Comments:
- This drug should not be used to treat basilar or hemiplegic migraines because these patients are at a greater risk of stroke.
- The safety of treating an average of 4 or more migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established; the safety and effectiveness of more than 1 dose within 24 hours has not been established.
Use: For the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in patients 6 years or older.
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended
Liver Dose Adjustments
Use with caution; dose adjustment may be considered in patients with severe hepatic impairment, however, no specific guidelines have been suggested
Dose Adjustments
CONCOMITANT USE WITH PROPRANOLOL:
Adults:
- Initial dose: 5 mg orally once
- Maximum dose: 3 doses (15 mg) in any 24-hour period
- Weight less than 40 kg: Use is not recommended
- Weight 40 kg or greater: Maximum dose: 5 mg in any 24-hour period
ELDERLY: Dose selection should be cautious, generally starting at the low end of the dosing range.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to active substance or any product ingredients (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen)
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Ischemic coronary artery disease (angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, or documented silent ischemia), or other significant underlying cardiovascular disease
- Coronary artery vasospasm including Prinzmetal's angina
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attacks
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Ischemic bowel disease
- Recent use (within 24 hours) of another 5-HT1 agonist (e.g., another triptan), ergotamine-containing medication, or ergot-type medication (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide)
- Concurrent or recent (past 2 weeks) use of MAO-A inhibitors
- Hemiplegic or basilar migraine
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 6 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
Oral tablets:
- Take orally with or without food
Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODT):
- Remove ODT from foil pouch at time of use
- Peel open blister pack with dry hands and place ODT on tongue; do not push tablet through the blister
- ODT will dissolve on tongue and can be swallowed with saliva, no additional liquid is needed
General:
- This drug should be used only where a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established; if a patient does not respond to first dose, the diagnosis of migraine should be reconsidered before treating subsequent attacks.
- This drug is not intended to treat cluster headaches, hemiplegic, or basilar migraines, or for the prophylactic treatment of migraines.
- For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, a cardiovascular evaluation should be performed prior to initiating therapy; for patients who have satisfactorily completed a cardiovascular evaluation, consider administering first dose in a medically supervised setting and performing an ECG immediately following administration.
- Medication overuse headaches may present as migraine-like headaches or as a marked increase in migraine frequency; for patients using acute migraine medications (e.g. ergotamine, triptans, opioids) for 10 or more days per month consider withdrawal of the overused drugs and treatment of withdrawal symptoms.
Monitoring:
- ECG monitoring should be considered in the interval following the first dose in patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) who have satisfactorily completed a cardiovascular evaluation, consider periodic cardiovascular evaluation in intermittent long-term users with cardiovascular risk factors
- Monitor blood pressure
- Monitor for serotonin syndrome; if concomitant use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are necessary, monitor closely when starting therapy or with a new or increased dose of a serotonergic medication
Patient advice:
- Patients should be instructed to read the US FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).
- Phenylketonurics should be aware that the orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine.
- Patients should be advised to talk with their doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications or supplements.
- Patients should be aware of the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects and the importance of seeking medical advice promptly if they occur.
- Patients experiencing no relief from a first dose of this medication should be instructed not to take a second dose without first talking to their healthcare provider.
- Patients should be informed of the possibility of developing medication overuse headaches.
- This drug may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills; have patient avoid driving or operating machinery until adverse effects are determined.
- Advise patient to speak to physician or health care professional if pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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