Maxalt, or rizatriptan as it is also known, is a medication that works to treat headaches by narrowing the blood vessels that surround the brain. This drug can also reduce certain other substances that have been known to cause migraine headache symptoms. Rizatriptan is used in the treatment of migraine headaches but does not prevent them, which is an important distinction to make when discussing it with your doctor. Migraine headache symptoms can be extremely painful and even debilitating, which is why having a medication like this can be of such great benefit.