What is Maxalt prescribed for?

Maxalt is used for the short term treatment of most types of migraines. Maxalt is not meant to be used to prevent migraines, or to decrease the number of migraine attacks.

There are some people that should not take Maxalt? You should not take Maxalt if you have any of following conditions:

• History of heart or circulatory disease, including heart attack, angina (chest pain), or stroke
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• You have taken other migraine medications that are in the same class as Maxalt, or medications containing ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, or methysergide within the past 24 hours
• Hemiplegic or basilar migraine
• Are currently taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine, or have taken MAO inhibitors in the past 2 weeks
• Phenylketonuric patients should not take  Maxalt, because they contain phenylalanine (a part of aspartame)

General Precautions to take when on Maxalt:

If you have the following conditions, your doctor will evaluate you to decide if Maxalt is right for you:

• Risk factors for heart disease including, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, strong family history of heart disease, or if you are postmenopausal, or a male over 40
• Severe kidney disease
• Moderate or severe liver disease

What side effects can you expect when taking Maxalt? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Maxalt. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

Some signs of rare but serious side effects include:

• Pain, pressure or tightness in the chest or throat. If severe, or does not go away, call your doctor right away. If this happens at all, discuss with your doctor before taking any more Maxalt.
• Rarely, people have a serious allergic reaction to Maxalt. This could cause shortness of breath, wheeziness, heart throbbing, swelling of eyelids, face, or lips, or a skin rash, lumps or hives. If this happens, It is important to inform your doctor immediately.

Some other side effects that you may experience while on this medication are:

• Chest heaviness, or pressure
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness

For more detailed information about Maxalt, ask your doctor.