Two medicines, side by side
Rizatriptan vs sumatriptan
Rizatriptan and sumatriptan are both labeled for migraine. Drugs@FDA records approvals of rizatriptan since 1998 and of sumatriptan since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.335 per rizatriptan 10 mg tablet and $0.302 per sumatriptan succ 50 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Sumatriptan's other strengths are brand-only: $108.22 per unit (Tosymra 10 mg nasal spray). How each works, in its label's words: Rizatriptan, “Rizatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors.”; Sumatriptan, “Sumatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors.”
Check it at the source: the rizatriptan FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026); the sumatriptan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the rizatriptan record
Rizatriptan (Maxalt) · label of January 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMAXALT ® and MAXALT-MLT ® are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years old. Limitations of Use MAXALT should only be used where a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 29, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 22 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.335 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Highlights of the sumatriptan record
Sumatriptan (Imitrex) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSumatriptan tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Limitations of Use: Use only if a clear diagnosis of migraine headache has been established. If a patient has no response to the first migraine attack treated with sumatriptan tablets, reconsider the diagnosis of migraine before sumatriptan tablets are administered to treat any subsequent attacks. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 28, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.302 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Rizatriptan label of January 29, 2026, Sumatriptan label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do rizatriptan and sumatriptan differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Rizatriptan, “Rizatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors.”; Sumatriptan, “Sumatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors.”
Both are in FDA's class serotonin-1b and serotonin-1d receptor agonists.
Half-life, in each label's words: Rizatriptan, “The plasma half-life of rizatriptan in males and females averages 2-3 hours.”; Sumatriptan, “Elimination The elimination half-life of sumatriptan is approximately 2.5 hours.”
Generics: rizatriptan since 2012; sumatriptan since 2009 (Drugs@FDA).
| Rizatriptan | Sumatriptan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Migraine | Migraine |
| Pharmacologic class | Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist | Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Rizatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors. | Sumatriptan binds with high affinity to human cloned 5-HT 1B/1D receptors. |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma half-life of rizatriptan in males and females averages 2-3 hours. | Elimination The elimination half-life of sumatriptan is approximately 2.5 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 29, 1998 | December 28, 1992 |
| First generic approved | December 31, 2012 | February 6, 2009 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 22 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.335 per tablet (Rizatriptan 10 mg tablet) | $0.302 per tablet (Sumatriptan succ 50 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -34% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 16,132 | 44,847 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to rizatriptan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions