Rizatriptan, sold under the brand name Maxalt among others, is a medication used for the treatment of migraine headaches.

[1][2] Common side effects include chest pain, dizziness, dry mouth, and tingling.

[3] Other side effects may include myocardial infarction, stroke, high blood pressure, serotonin syndrome, and anaphylaxis.

[4] Rizatriptan is in the triptan class and is believed to work by activating the 5-HT1 receptor.

[13] Like the other triptans sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, rizatriptan induces vasoconstriction—possibly by inhibiting the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory neurons in the trigeminal nerve.