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Side Effects of Maxalt

Maxalt is the brand name for the medication rizatriptan benzoate, prescribed to treat migraine headaches. Distributed by Merck and Co., Maxalt does not prevent migraine attacks, but can shorten their duration. Numerous side effects are possible.

  1. Most Common Effects

    • In pre-approval clinical studies with Maxalt, as detailed by eMedTV, the most common side effects were dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, weakness and nausea. These occurred in between 5 to 9 percent of participants.

    Other Common Effects

    • Another relatively common side effect is abnormal skin sensations, such as burning, prickling or tingling. Some people also experience dry mouth, or neck, jaw or throat pain.

    Cardiovascular Concerns

    • People with risk factors for cardiovascular disease can have cardiac symptoms when taking Maxalt, and up to 3 percent of participants in some of the clinical studies mentioned above experienced chest pain and tightness or pressure. Rarely, individuals with these risk factors have developed an irregular heartbeat, or experienced a heart attack or stroke while taking Maxalt.

    Serious Side Effects

    • Other rare but serious side effects include bloody diarrhea, shortness of breath, sudden severe abdominal pain and vision changes.

    Serotonin Syndrome

    • People taking certain antidepressants may not be able to take Maxalt, because the combination increases the risk of developing a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms include confusion, diarrhea, difficulty walking, fainting, fever, hallucinations, increased perspiration, muscle spasms and rapid heartbeat.

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