Rizatriptan is a medication used forthe treatment of headaches, as well as migraines and some symptomswhich are known to accompany them. Yet, when not used according tothe instructions provided both by the doctor and the medicationitself, Rizatriptan can be dangerous for one's health, triggeringmany side-effects.
If you want to learn more about thismedication, read through the lines below, since these offer manyuseful facts related to rizatriptan and its side-effects.
Rizatriptan for Migraines
As it was mentioned above, rizatriptanis a medication which is used for helping people deal with thesymptoms of migraines, including headaches, light and soundsensitivity, vomiting and nausea. Therefore, taking this medicationon time will prevent you from suffering from all the ailments relatedto migraines, capable of making life much harder, especially when itcomes to dealing with the usual problems we face on a daily basis.
This drug belongs to a group calledtriptans. Basically, rizatriptan affects serotonin levels, whichconstricts the blood vessels in the brain. When this medicationprevents this hormone from having such an effect, it actuallyrelieves us from headaches and migraines, setting the pathways insidethe brain free, promoting blood flow.
However, rizatriptan is not capable ofpreventing future migraines or reduce their intensity and frequency.
Before taking this medication you areadvised to read through the information leaflet that comes with itcarefully. Additionally, before having the medication prescribed,consult with your doctor about its potentially dangerous effects.
Some of the things you need to bear inmind, when opting for rizatriptan are the following. First of all,you can take this medication with or without eating some foodbeforehand. Yet, rest assured that taking it on an empty stomach willresult in a faster effectiveness of the drug. Do not take thismedication for the sake of preventing migraines which have not yetstarted. Rather, use it once the pain appears and do not increase thedosage once the prescribed one is found insufficient to alleviate thesymptoms you are facing. However, two hours after taking the drug,you may take another dosage, provided that the symptoms of migraineshave already started disappearing or that the headaches are returningback after stopping.
Your dosage should not exceed 30mg,distributed in three doses on a daily basis. If you opt for theCanadian variant of rizatriptan, 20mg daily will suffice. Either way,before taking the medication for the first time, make sure you informyour doctor if you are susceptible to heart problems and disease. Onthe other hand, once you take the initial dose, seek medicalassistance if you notice that the symptoms are getting worse.
Some other factors you should informyour doctor about prior to taking rizatriptan are allergies to thismedication you might be having and allergies in general, a history ofheart diseases, decreased blood flow to the brain, bloodcirculation-related diseases, hypertension, headaches. Also, let yourdoctor known if you are older than 40, if you are a female in hermenopausal stage, if you have high cholesterol levels or if you areoverweight or smoker. All these factors may affect the dosage and thesafety regulations related to prescribing and administering thisdrug. Therefore, do not fail to mention them.
Rizatriptan is also known to interactwith other drugs you might be taking at the same time. So, ask yourdoctor about this too, avoiding these potentially dangerous, or evenlife-threatening side-effects. Even though it is not yet knownwhether this medication can harm a fetus in the womb or a babythrough breast milk, you are advised to report pregnancy or earlymotherhood to the doctor too.
Finally, if you experience any strangeor unusual symptoms after taking razatriptan, react immediately andseek medical assistance.
Side-Effects of Rizatriptan
As far as most of the reportedside-effects of rizatriptan are concerned, the list is quite long,even though most people manage to go through the therapy withoutadverse reactions to it. Nevertheless, some of the most frequentlyseen side-effects related to this drug are drowsiness, dizziness, drymouth, prickling or tingling sensation, numbness, flushing, fatigueand general weakness. If you notice these, make sure you seek medicalassistance timely.
Also, commonly enough, jaw tightnesshas been related to rizatriptan usage, appearing shortly after youtake the medication. However, chest pain, left arm pain, fainting,irregular heartbeats, vision problems, weakness affecting a singleside of the body, slurred speech, confusion, abrupt stomach pain andbloody diarrhea are some of the most serious adverse effects of thisdrug. So, if you notice any of these, seek help as soon as possible.
Finally, overdosing can lead to aso-called, serotonin syndrome, involving the appearance ofhallucinations, restlessness, loss of coordination, twitching of themuscles, nausea, fever and diarrhea.
All in all, even though rizatriptan isan excellent medication for treating migraines and the symptoms whichappear hand-in-hand with them, you need to be careful when using itand consult with your doctor about all the possible side-effects andmethods of their prevention.
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