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Maxalt (Rizatriptan) and Ataxia

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A lady asked:

I found on your web site a statement about Maxalt causing ataxia. Do you have any idea how long it can last?

This is one of the mysteries of ototoxic drugs—just how long an side effect will last. Some side effects only appear while you are taking the drug. Others disappear in the weeks or months following stopping the drug. In some cases, the side effects are permanent. Unfortunately, very little study is done on ototoxic side effects for most drugs, so not much is known for certain.

In the case of Rizatriptan, I have no information on whether side effects are permanent or not—only that it can cause ataxia (staggering gait) in up to 1% of the people taking it.

Typically, (if there is such a thing as “typical”), balance problems such as ataxia go away after you get used to the drug—perhaps in a couple of weeks or so, but it may never go away.

I find it interesting that you have ataxia, but have not mentioned having any of the other ototoxic side effects of Rizatriptan such as hearing loss, hyperacusis (when normal sounds are now too loud), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, vertigo (spinning sensation) and ear pain.

Either you did not link these side effects to the Maxalt you are taking, or it just goes to show that a person may get zero, one, or more side effects. You do not have to experience them all.

If you would like more information on the ototoxicity of Rizatriptan and the 876 other drugs known to damage ears, check out Ototoxic Drugs Exposed.

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Hearing Loss Research & Resources

Free Visor Cards

Download your free Visor Cards for hard of hearing or deaf people here.

Loop Systems

Loop your home or meeting room. Discover how you can hear wonderfully clear sound again when listening to the TV/radio, etc, or when listening to a speaker at a meeting.

Loop systems are one of the best-kept secrets in town. To learn more about Loop Systems and what they can do for you, click here.

Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How

If your ears ring, buzz, chirp, hiss, click or roar, you know just how annoying tinnitus can be. You do not have to put up with this racket for the rest of your life. This book teaches you many things you can do to help bring your tinnitus under your control so it no longer bothers you.

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Sounds Now Too Loud for You?

Hypersensitive to Sound front coverIf some (or all) normal sounds seem so loud they “blow the top of your head off”, or make you wince or jump, or cause you headaches or ear pain, or affect your balance, or result in fear or annoyance of sounds so you feel you have to avoid these sounds, this book is for you!

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Hearing Phantom Sounds?

When hard of hearing people begin hearing phantom voices or music, they immediately worry they are going crazy. It never crosses their minds that they are sane and are just experiencing Musical Ear syndrome.

To learn more about the strange phantom sounds of Musical Ear syndrome and what you can do about them, click here to read a comprehensive article about Musical Ear Syndrome.

Or get the book—Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

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Center for Hearing Loss Help

Neil G. Bauman, Ph.D.

1013 Ridgeway Drive, Lynden,
WA 98264-1057 USA

Email: neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Phone: 360-778-1266 (M-F 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PST)

© 2025 Center for Hearing Loss Help – Help for your hearing loss, tinnitus and other ear conditions

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [which also includes perfect hearing] through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6:23]

"But know this, in the last days perilous times will come" [2 Timothy 3:1]. "For there will be famines, pestilences, and [severe] earthquakes in various places" [Matthew 24:7], "distress of nations, the sea and the waves roaring"—tsunamis, hurricanes—Luke 21:25, but this is good news if you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads [and rejoice] because your redemption draws near" [Luke 21:28].