Maxalt

rizatriptan

Maxalt, or rizatriptan, is in a class of drugs called Triptans and is used to relieve pain from migraines.

While side effects cannot be anticipated, some common reactions include chest pain, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, nausea, pain, tingling skin, weakness.

In July 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public heath advisory warning of a potential life-threatening problem known as serotonin syndrome, which may develop in patients who take Maxalt while taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, popular anti-depressants. Both types of drugs are designed to boost the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain.

Other triptan drugs include:

• Amerge (naratriptan)
• Axert (frovatriptan)
• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
• Frova (frovatriptan)
• Relpax (eletriptan)
• Zomig and Zomig ZMG (zolmitriptan)

Some SSRIs that may cause serotonin syndrome when combined with triptan drugs include:

• Celexa (citalopram)
• Fluvoxamine
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Symbyax (olanzapine/fuloxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)