Drug Interaction Report

Rizatriptan and Methylergonovine: Interaction Details

Name: Rizatriptan and Methylergonovine Interaction
Creator: Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

A pharmacist-reviewed analysis of the Rizatriptan and Methylergonovine interaction: the documented clinical effects, severity rating, onset, mechanism, and management considerations, with cited references throughout.

AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature

Rizatriptan

No brand names on record

Methylergonovine

Methergine Methergine® Methylergometrine

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

Updated Aug 8, 2026

Editorial policy · Data sources

Interaction severity

Contraindicated

These should generally not be used together.

Minor

Moderate

Major

Contraindicated

How we grade severity & evidence

Severity levels

Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.

Evidence grades

Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.

Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.

Of 21 documented Rizatriptan interactions, 4 are rated contraindicated — including this one.

Worried about symptoms right now? Contact your pharmacist or prescriber, or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Call 911 for an emergency.

Onset

rapid

Evidence

theoretical

Severity

Contraindicated

What happens

Prolonged vasospastic reactions

Interaction Deep Dive

Ergot-containing drugs have been reported to cause prolonged vasospastic reactions. Based on the theory that prolonged vasospastic reactions may be additive with rizatriptan and ergot derivatives, the use of rizatriptan within 24 hours of an ergotamine-containing or an ergot-type agent is contraindicated¹².

Why it happens (mechanism)

Additive vasoconstrictive effects

Common questions

Can I take Rizatriptan and Methylergonovine together?

Prolonged vasospastic reactions Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.

How serious is the Rizatriptan and Methylergonovine interaction?

It is rated contraindicated. These should generally not be used together.

How quickly could this interaction happen?

The documented onset is "rapid". Effects can appear quickly, often within about 24 hours of combining the drugs.

How strong is the evidence for this interaction?

The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.

Questions for your pharmacist

Does my dose of Rizatriptan or Methylergonovine need adjusting while I take them together?
What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?

References (2)

Product Information: MAXALT(R) oral tablets, rizatriptan benzoate oral tablets. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp (per FDA), Whitehouse Station, NJ, 2019. DailyMed
Product Information: RizaFilm® oral film, rizatriptan oral film. Gensco Pharma (per FDA), Doral, FL, 2026. DailyMed

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Rizatriptan

Keep reading about Rizatriptan

All Rizatriptan interactions (21)

Also serious with: Dihydroergotamine Injection Linezolid Injection Dihydroergotamine Nasal Spray Palonosetron Injection

Methylergonovine

Keep reading about Methylergonovine

All Methylergonovine interactions (226) Methylergonovine drug information

Also serious with: Almotriptan Dihydroergotamine Injection Atazanavir Dinoprostone

Beyond drug–drug

These medications also interact with supplements

Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:

Rizatriptan + Activated Charcoal Lithium 5-htp Acetyl-l-carnitine Ayahuasca Black Cohosh Black Seed Coffee Charcoal + 30 more

major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.

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A message from HelloPharmacist

About our interaction database: depth, not breadth

HelloPharmacist doesn't license one of the big commercial interaction databases, so what you'll find here is not a complete list of every known drug interaction. Instead, each entry is researched, analyzed, and written up individually — documented from the published literature, reviewed by a pharmacist, and cited so you can check every source yourself.

If a combination isn't listed here, it means we haven't documented it yet — never that it's safe. For screening a full medication list, we recommend pairing this site with a comprehensive tool like the Drugs.com Interaction Checker and, most importantly, a review by your own pharmacist. For a deep, plain-English, fully sourced explanation of a specific documented interaction — that's exactly what we built this for.

This information is for education, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without talking to your pharmacist or prescriber.