MAXALT Melt 10mg contains 10mg rizatriptan benzoate per melt wafer .
MAXALT is used to relieve the headache pain and other
symptoms of migraine attacks. MAXALT does not work for other types of headaches.
Migraine is an intense, throbbing, typically one-sided headache. It often includes nausea,
vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound. Some people may have visual
symptoms before the headache, called an aura. An aura can include flashing lights or wavy
lines.
Migraine attacks last anything from two hours to two days. and they can return frequently.
The severity and frequency of migraine attacks may vary. Migraine occurs in about one out
of every 10 people. It is three times more common in women than men. Six out of ten
migraine sufferers have their first attack before the age of 20.
There is no single cause of migraine. It tends to run in families. Certain things, singly
or in combination, can trigger migraine attacks in some people.
Some of these triggers are:
If you understand what triggers your attacks, you may be able to prevent migraine attacks or reduce their frequency. Keeping a headache diary will help you identify and monitor all of the possible migraine triggers you encounter. Once the triggers are identified, you and your doctor can modify your treatment and lifestyle appropriately.
How MAXALT works During a migraine attack, blood vessels in the brain dilate, or widen, resulting in a throbbing pain. MAXALT decreases this widening, returning the blood vessels to their normal size, and therefore helps to relieve the pain. MAXALT also blocks the release of certain chemicals from nerve endings that cause more pain and other symptoms of migraine.
Before you take MAXALT
Do not take MAXALT if you have an allergy to MAXALT or any
of it’s inactive ingredients listed below.
Do not take MAXALT if you have:
Do not take MAXALT if you are currently taking monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, or have taken them within the last two weeks.
MAOIs include moclobemide, phenelzine, tranylcypromine and pargyline.
Do not take MAXALT if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take MAXALT if the expiry date on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking MAXALT, talk to your doctor.
Do not give MAXALT to children under 18 years of age.
The safety and effectiveness of MAXALT in children under 18 years have not been
established.
Before you start to take MAXALT
Tell your doctor if:
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any MAXALT.
How to take MAXALT
Take MAXALT only when prescribed by your doctor. The usual
dose to treat a migraine is one 10 mg tablet. You may get easing of your headache pain
within 30 minutes after taking the tablet.
If the first MAXALT tablet does help your migraine, but it comes back later, you may take
another tablet. Take the second tablet at least 2 hours after the first. Do not take more
than 30 mg (3 tablets) in a 24 hour period.
If the first MAXALT tablet does not help your migraine, do not take another tablet for the
same attack as it is unlikely to help. It is still likely, however, that you will respond
to MAXALT during your next attack.
If you are taking propranolol, the usual dose to treat a migraine is one 5 mg tablet. Do
not take more than 15 mg (three 5 mg tablets) in a 24 hour period.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
Swallow MAXALT with a glass of water. It does not matter if
you take MAXALT before or after food. If you take too much (overdose) - Immediately
telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (New Zealand telephone 03 4747000) for
advice, or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or
anyone else may have taken too much MAXALT. Do this even if there are no signs of
discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too many tablets, you may feel sleepy, dizzy, faint or have a slow heart beat.
Things you must do while you are using MAXALT
If your headache is more severe than your 'usual' migraine
or it behaves differently, tell your doctor.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that
you take MAXALT for migraines.
If you become pregnant while taking MAXALT, tell your doctor immediately.
Things you must not do while you are using MAXALT
Do not give MAXALT to anyone else, even if they have the
same condition as you.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how MAXALT affects you.
Migraine or treatment with MAXALT may cause sleepiness or dizziness in some people. Make
sure you know how you react to MAXALT before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do
anything else that could be dangerous if you are sleepy or dizzy. If you drink alcohol,
sleepiness or dizziness may by worse.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you
do not feel well while you are taking MAXALT.
MAXALT helps most people with migraine headaches, but it may have unwanted side effects in
a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the
time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Ask
your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines,
including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop. Some medicines should not be taken with MAXALT. These include: monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) used to treat depression, including moclobemide,
tranylcypromine, phenelzine, sumatriptan, another similar medicine used to treat migraine.
Some medicines and MAXALT may interfere with each other. These include: propranolol, a
medicine used to treat high blood pressure; ergotamine, other medicines used to treat
migraine; methysergide, a medicine used to prevent migraine.
These medicines may be affected by MAXALT, or may affect how well it works. You may need
different amounts of your medicine, you may need to take different medicines or you may
need to be careful of the timing of some of these medicines Your doctor or pharmacist has
more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking MAXALT.
