Comprehensive medication guide to Rizatriptan including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$10–$30 copay for generic on most commercial plans; Medicare Part D Tier 2 with quantity limits of 9 tablets per month; some plans require step therapy with sumatriptan first.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$150–$160 retail for a 9-count generic supply without discounts; as low as $7–$13 with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons for a 9-tablet, 30-day supply.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Rizatriptan is a prescription medication used to treat acute migraine headaches with or without aura in adults and children ages 6 and older. It is sold under the brand names
Rizatriptan is a prescription medication used to treat acute migraine headaches with or without aura in adults and children ages 6 and older. It is sold under the brand names Maxalt (standard tablet) and Maxalt-MLT (orally disintegrating tablet, or ODT). Generic versions of both forms are widely available at most pharmacies.
Rizatriptan belongs to a class of drugs called triptans — selective serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonists used specifically for migraine treatment. It was first approved by the FDA in 1998 and has been one of the most widely prescribed acute migraine medications for over 25 years. Rizatriptan is taken at the onset of a migraine to stop the attack; it is not used for migraine prevention.
The two available formulations are: a standard oral tablet (5 mg and 10 mg) swallowed with water, and an orally disintegrating tablet (5 mg and 10 mg) that dissolves on the tongue without water — making it especially useful for patients who experience nausea during migraines. Both forms reach peak blood levels within 1-2.5 hours and have a half-life of 2-3 hours.
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During a migraine attack, blood vessels around the brain dilate (widen), triggering pain-sensing fibers in the trigeminal nerve. These nerve fibers release inflammatory chemicals — including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P — that amplify pain and cause the nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity that accompany migraines. This cascade is known as the trigeminovascular system.
Rizatriptan interrupts this cascade at two points simultaneously. First, it activates 5-HT1B receptors on the smooth muscle of cranial blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction — narrowing the dilated vessels back toward their normal diameter. Second, it activates 5-HT1D receptors on trigeminal nerve terminals, inhibiting the release of the inflammatory neuropeptides. Together, these actions stop the migraine headache and relieve associated symptoms like nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia.
Because rizatriptan works by causing vasoconstriction, it is contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension, history of stroke or TIA, or peripheral vascular disease. Patients with these conditions should discuss non-triptan alternatives (like CGRP antagonists) with their doctor.
5 mg — tablet
Standard oral tablet; less commonly stocked than 10 mg
10 mg — tablet
Standard oral tablet; most common adult dose; swallowed with water
5 mg — orally disintegrating tablet (ODT)
Dissolves on tongue without water; contains phenylalanine — not for PKU patients
10 mg — orally disintegrating tablet (ODT)
Most common ODT dose; useful for patients with migraine-associated nausea
Rizatriptan has a findability score of 88 out of 100 — meaning it is generally easy to find at most pharmacies. As of 2026, it is not on the FDA drug shortage database or the ASHP shortage list. Generic rizatriptan is manufactured by multiple companies and supply is stable nationwide. For most patients, filling a rizatriptan prescription is straightforward at major chain pharmacies.
However, the orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formulation can be harder to find than the standard tablet, particularly at smaller chain or rural pharmacies that don't keep it in regular inventory. Insurance quantity limits (typically 9 tablets per 30-day period) and step therapy requirements can also create access barriers for some patients despite adequate national supply.
If you're having trouble locating rizatriptan at your local pharmacy, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find out which ones currently have it in stock and can fill your prescription. Results are texted to you — no need to call every pharmacy yourself.
Rizatriptan is not a controlled substance and has no special DEA prescribing requirements. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority can write a prescription for rizatriptan, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. A specialist referral is not required to obtain a prescription.
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) — Family medicine and internal medicine doctors most commonly prescribe rizatriptan as first-line migraine treatment
Neurologists — Specialists who manage complex or frequent migraine cases and can optimize treatment plans
Headache Specialists — UCNS-certified subspecialists with advanced training in headache disorders
OB/GYNs — For women with menstrual migraine or migraine that changes with hormonal cycles
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) — With prescribing authority in their state; commonly prescribe rizatriptan for established migraine patients
Rizatriptan is available through telehealth in all 50 states, since it is not a controlled substance. Telehealth platforms like Teladoc, MDLive, and migraine-specific services like Cove (Thirty Madison) can evaluate migraine symptoms and prescribe rizatriptan during a same-day virtual visit, making access faster and more convenient than scheduling an in-person appointment.
No. Rizatriptan is not a controlled substance and has no DEA schedule. It does not carry a risk of addiction, physical dependence, or abuse. Unlike controlled medications such as opioids or stimulants, rizatriptan can be prescribed without the special DEA prescriber registration requirements, and patients can fill it at any pharmacy without DEA-restricted prescription forms.
Because rizatriptan is not a controlled substance, it can also be prescribed via telehealth in all 50 states without the restrictions that apply to scheduled medications. Prescriptions can include multiple refills, and pharmacies can transfer rizatriptan prescriptions between locations without the limitations that apply to controlled substance prescriptions.
Note that while rizatriptan is not scheduled, it is still a prescription-only medication in the United States. A valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider is required to obtain it.
Most side effects of rizatriptan are mild and resolve within 2-3 hours. Common side effects include:
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Drowsiness or somnolence
Fatigue or weakness (asthenia)
Nausea
Dry mouth
Chest tightness, pressure, or heaviness (often non-cardiac, but report to doctor)
Paresthesia (tingling sensations in face, neck, or limbs)
Heart attack symptoms: severe chest pain spreading to arm or jaw, sweating, shortness of breath
Stroke symptoms: sudden weakness or numbness on one side, slurred speech, vision changes
Serotonin syndrome: agitation, fever, rapid heartbeat, muscle rigidity, sweating, confusion
Severe abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea (possible ischemic colitis)
Severe allergic reaction: hives, swelling, difficulty breathing (anaphylaxis)
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Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Most widely prescribed triptan; available in tablet, nasal spray, and injection; broadest insurance coverage and lowest cost; ideal first alternative
Eletriptan (Relpax)
Longer duration of action (~12 hours); better for migraines that recur or last long; generic available since 2017
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
Available in tablet, ODT, and nasal spray; useful for patients needing non-oral delivery
Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
CGRP receptor antagonist; no vasoconstrictor effects; safe for patients with cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate triptans; more expensive but increasingly covered
Naratriptan (Amerge)
Longest half-life of common triptans (~6 hours); slower onset but milder side effects; good for slow-onset or longer migraines
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MAO Inhibitors (MAOIs)
majorContraindicated — absolutely do not combine. MAOIs increase rizatriptan blood levels by >119% and active metabolite by >400%. Do not take rizatriptan within 14 days of stopping an MAOI.
Propranolol (Inderal)
majorIncreases rizatriptan AUC by ~70% via MAO-A inhibition. Reduce rizatriptan dose to 5 mg max per dose (15 mg/24 hr) in adults. Do not give to pediatric patients <40 kg on propranolol.
Other triptans (sumatriptan, eletriptan, zolmitriptan, etc.)
majorContraindicated within 24 hours due to risk of additive vasospasm. Do not combine triptans on the same day.
Ergotamine and ergot derivatives (DHE, ergotamine)
majorContraindicated within 24 hours. Additive vasospastic effects can cause serious cardiovascular events.
SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine)
moderateModerate risk of serotonin syndrome. Use together with caution; monitor for signs of serotonin syndrome.
SNRIs (venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine)
moderateModerate risk of serotonin syndrome. Use together with caution; monitor closely, especially when starting or increasing doses.
Alcohol
minorWorsens dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid alcohol after taking rizatriptan.
Rizatriptan is one of the most effective and widely used acute migraine medications available in 2026. With over 25 years on the market, a robust generic supply, and prices as low as $7-$13 per supply with discount coupons, it offers excellent value for migraine patients who can tolerate triptans. The ODT formulation is a practical advantage for the many patients who experience nausea during attacks.
For most patients, rizatriptan is easy to find and afford. The key potential pitfalls — the propranolol drug interaction, cardiovascular contraindications, MAOI interaction, and monthly quantity limits from insurance — are all manageable with proper patient education and proactive prescriber communication.
If you have a prescription and need to find rizatriptan in stock near you, medfinder calls local pharmacies on your behalf and texts you which ones currently have it available — saving you from the frustrating and time-consuming process of calling pharmacies yourself. Because when a migraine is coming, you need your medication fast.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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