Rizatriptan (trade name Maxalt) is a 5-HT1 receptor agonist of the triptan class of drugs developed by Merck & Co. for the treatment of migraine headaches. Rizatriptan (trade name Maxalt) is a 5-HT1 receptor agonist of the triptan class of drugs developed by Merck & Co. for the treatment of migraine headaches. Rizatriptan acts as an agonist at serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors. Rizatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Rizatriptan benzoate presumably exerts its therapeutic effects in the treatment of a migraine headache by binding to 5-HT1B/1D receptors located on intracranial blood vessels and sensory nerves of the trigeminal system. Rizatriptan is completely absorbed following oral administration. The mean oral absolute bioavailability of the rizatriptan benzoate tablet is about 45%, and mean peak plasma concentrations are reached in approximately 1-1.5 hours. The presence of a migraine headache did not appear to affect the absorption or pharmacokinetics of rizatriptan. Food has no significant effect on the bioavailability of rizatriptan but delays the time to reach peak concentration by an hour. The primary route of rizatriptan metabolism is via oxidative deamination by monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) to the indole acetic acid metabolite, which is not active at the 5-HT1B/1D receptor. N-mono-desmethyl-rizatriptan, a metabolite with activity similar to that of parent compound at the 5-HT1B/1D receptor, is formed to a minor degree. Plasma concentrations of N-mono-desmethyl-rizatriptan are approximately 14% of those of parent compound, and it is eliminated at a similar rate. Other minor metabolites, the N-oxide, the 6-hydroxy compound, and the sulfate conjugate of the 6-hydroxy metabolite are not active at the 5-HT1B/1D receptor.