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Rizatriptan (Maxalt)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Rizatriptan

What it is

Rizatriptan is a triptan migraine medicine that activates serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, narrowing swollen blood vessels around the brain and blocking the release of pain-signalling substances. It is taken at the start of a migraine attack, as tablets or melt-in-the-mouth wafers, and acts fairly quickly. It is sold as Maxalt.

How genes come into it

Rizatriptan is broken down mainly by monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), not by CYP enzymes. Studies have looked at MAOA, its target gene HTR1B, the dopamine receptor gene DRD2, GRIA1 and inflammation genes for how well it relieved migraine. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Rizatriptan. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (1 rated variant)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

DRD2 rs6275: Level 3. Efficacy: Migraine without Aura. 1.

Response (12 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

DRD2 rs6275: Genotypes AA + AG are associated with decreased response to rizatriptan in people with Migraine without Aura as compared to genotype GG.

DRD2 rs1799732: Allele G is not associated with response to rizatriptan in people with Migraine without Aura as compared to allele del.

GRIA1 rs2195450: Allele A is not associated with response to almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan or zolmitriptan in people with Migraine without Aura as compared to allele G.

GRIA1 rs548294: Allele C is not associated with response to almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan or zolmitriptan in people with Migraine without Aura as compared to allele T.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Imitrex (Triptans)

Triptans (class) (Triptans)

Abilify (Antipsychotics)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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