Rizact 5mg (Rizatriptan)

Rizact general information

What is Rizact used for?

Rizact tablets 5mg are used to relieve acute migraine attacks with or without aura, which is the perception of visual disturbances and/or smells and is usually the first sign that a migraine headache is on its way.  Rizact-5 should only be used for treatment of a migraine attack to relieve headache and other symptoms, including nausea and sensitivity to light and noise, but they should not be used to prevent migraine headaches from occurring.  You can use Rizact tablets 5mg at any stage of a migraine attack but it is more effective if taken as soon as possible after the first signs of headache and/or aura.  Rizact tablets 5mg are not intended for the treatment of other types of headache, such as cluster headache, which is a very painful type of headache that occurs in regular cycles or clusters, interspersed with periods of remission.  Rizact-5 is not intended for the management of haemiplegic migraine, which can also cause temporary weakness of one side of the body and paralysis; or basilar migraine, which is another form of migraine and is caused by an arterial spasm at the base of the brain restricting blood flow to the brain.

How does Rizact work?

Rizact tablets 5mg tablets contain rizatriptan, which is a member of the group of drugs called tryptans and is a serotonin agonist that mimics the action of serotonin (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT).  Serotonin is a brain chemical that is involved in control of mood, pain sensation, sexual behaviour, sleep, as well as dilation (widening) and constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels.  Migraine is thought to be caused by dilatation or widening of blood vessels in the head (intracranial vessels) due to one of many migraine triggers, which in turn stimulates nearby sensory trigeminal nerves, which release chemicals, causing pain and inflammation.  Rizatriptan in Rizact-5 stimulates the serotonin receptors in these expanded blood vessels making them narrow again (vasoconstriction) and inhibits trigeminal nerve activity and pain transmission, relieving pain.  Both actions are thought to contribute to the anti-migraine action of rizatriptan and relieve headache and other symptoms of a migraine attack.  Rizact tablets 5mg are effective in relieving the pain of migraine headache within an hour of taking the film coated tablets. 

What does Rizact contain?

Rizact film coated tablets contain the active ingredient rizatriptan benzoate 5mg, a serotonin agonist used to relieve symptoms of a migraine attack.

Treating migraine headache with Rizact

Rizact tablets 5mg contain rizatriptan, which is a serotonin agonist that mimics the action of serotonin.  They are used to relieve acute migraine attacks with or without aura, which is the perception of visual disturbances and/or smells called and is usually the first sign that a migraine headache is on its way.  Migraine is thought to be caused by dilatation or widening of blood vessels in the head due to one of many migraine triggers, which in turn stimulates nearby sensory nerves so that you feel pain.  Rizatriptan in Rizact-5 stimulates the serotonin receptors in these expanded blood vessels making them narrow again (vasoconstriction) and inhibits trigeminal nerve activity, relieving pain.  Both actions are thought to contribute to the anti-migraine action of Rizatriptan in Rizact-5 to relieve headache and other symptoms of a migraine attack.  Rizact tablets 5mg relieve the headache and other symptoms of migraine, including nausea and sensitivity to light.  

What are the side effects of Rizact?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Rizact tablets 5mg include: dizziness, drowsiness, sensory disturbance including, tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin (paraesthesia), loss of sensitivity to pain or touch (hypoaesthesia), shortness of breath, sensations of heaviness, pain, sensations of heat or cold, pressure or tightness, weakness, fatigue, decrease mental acuity.

When should Rizact not be used?

You should not use Rizact if you:

• are allergic to rizatriptan or any triptan like sumatriptan or any other ingredients in Rizact
• are pregnant or breastfeeding without discussion with your doctor
• have had myocardial infarction or have ischaemic heart disease, coronary vasospasm (Prinzmetal's angina), peripheral vascular disease, or a history of cerebovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• have liver disease or uncontrolled hypertension
• have basilar or haemiplegic migraine
• are using medicines that interact with Rizact, including: ergotamine or derivatives of ergotamine (including methysergide), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

What medications interact with Rizact?

The following medications interact with Rizact tablets 5mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Rizact-5 or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor. 

• Ergot derivatives including methysergide (also for migraine headaches) should not be taken 24 hours before to 6 hours after dose of Rizact-5
• MAOI antidepressants should not be taken within 14 days of Rizact-5
• Other triptan serotonin agonist like sumatriptan
• Other serotonin agonist antidepressants like SSRIs; SNRIs.

How should Rizact be taken?

You can take Rizact tablets 5mg at any stage of a migraine attack but it is more effective if taken as soon as possible after the first signs of headache and/or aura.  You should take your Rizact-5 swallowed whole without food, as food may delay the effectiveness of Rizact-5.  If the first dose of Rizact tablets 5mg does not help your migraine, you should not take another dose for the same migraine, as it is unlikely that it will improve your headache.  If you have another migraine attack in the next 24 hours you can take another dose, but not within two hours of the first dose and you should not take more than 30mg within 24 hours. 

How should Rizact be stored?

You should store your Rizact below 25°C in a cool dry place.