Rizatriptan per emicrania

About rizatriptan

Non è chiaro cosa causa emicrania. Si pensa che alcune sostanze chimiche nel cervello aumentino di attività e, di conseguenza, alcune parti del cervello emettano segnali confusi che portano ai sintomi dell'emicrania. Non è chiaro perché le persone con emicrania sviluppino questi cambiamenti chimici. Molti attacchi di emicrania si verificano senza una ragione apparente, ma per alcune persone ci possono essere fattori che scatenano un attacco, come certi cibi o bevande.

Rizatriptan belongs to a class of medicines known as 5HT₁-agonisti del recettore. Sono anche conosciuti semplicemente come triptani. I triptani agiscono stimolando i recettori di una sostanza naturale nel cervello chiamata serotonina (o 5HT). Questo allevia i sintomi dell'emicrania.

Rizatriptan is effective in relieving migraine attacks once the headache phase has started. It does not help prevent migraine headaches from developing.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking rizatriptan it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Se hai più di 65 anni o meno di 18 anni.

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If you have heart problems such as angina, or if you have had a heart attack.

• Se hai la pressione alta (ipertensione).

• Se hai problemi di circolazione.

• Se hai problemi con il funzionamento del tuo fegato o con il funzionamento dei tuoi reni.

• Se hai mai avuto un ictus o un attacco ischemico transitorio (noto anche come TIA, o 'mini-ictus').

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about rizatriptan and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take rizatriptan exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one tablet as soon as you start to feel a migraine headache develop.

• If you are taking a Maxalt® tablet, swallow the tablet with a drink of water. If you are taking a Maxalt® Melt wafer, this has been made so that you can place it on your tongue and allow it to dissolve in your mouth. Maxalt® Melt wafers are particularly helpful if drinking water to take a tablet would make you feel sick.

• If you have recently had a meal, rizatriptan may take a little longer before it starts to work than if you had not eaten. This is because the food in your stomach can delay the absorption of the medicine. Although rizatriptan is better taken when your stomach is empty, you can still take it if you have had a meal.

• If your migraine at first improves but then comes back again, you may take another tablet/wafer, providing it is at least two hours after you took the first one. If your migraine is not eased after taking the first dose, a further dose is unlikely to work, so do not take a second tablet/wafer.

• Do not take more than two 10 mg tablets in 24 hours.

• Rizatriptan is meant to be used to treat headache pain during a migraine attack, not to stop the pain from coming on. You should wait until the pain is just beginning to develop, rather than taking it at the aura stage or when you feel that a migraine may be developing. Taking it earlier in a migraine attack will not stop the headache from developing.

• You should not take other migraine treatments such as other triptans or ergotamine at the same time as rizatriptan.

• Some people may benefit from taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller (such as naproxen) in addition to rizatriptan. Your doctor will advise you about this if it is recommended for you.

• If you find that rizatriptan does not relieve your migraine, make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor, as a different 'triptan' medicine may be more effective for you.

• Se acquisti farmaci da banco, verifica con il tuo farmacista quali sono sicuri per te.

• Potrebbe essere utile tenere un diario delle emicranie. Annota quando e dove è iniziato ogni attacco di emicrania, cosa stavi facendo e cosa avevi mangiato quel giorno. Potrebbe emergere un modello e potrebbe essere possibile evitare una o più cose che scatenano i tuoi attacchi di emicrania.

• Rizatriptan is used to treat migraine attacks, but there are other medicines that are available that may help to prevent you from having migraines. If you have migraines frequently, discuss this with your doctor.

• Some people who get frequent migraine attacks are in fact getting medication-induced headache. Medication-induced headache (also called medication-overuse headache) is caused by taking painkillers or triptans too often. If you use rizatriptan or painkillers on more than two days a week on a regular basis, you may be at risk of this. You should talk with your doctor if you suspect it.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with rizatriptan. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms that you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.