Wakix vs. Nuvigil

• Are Wakix and Nuvigil the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Wakix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Nuvigil?
• What Is Wakix?
• What Is Nuvigil?
• What Drugs Interact with Wakix?
• What Drugs Interact with Nuvigil?
• How Should Wakix Be Taken?
• How Should Nuvigil Be Taken?

Wakix (pitolisant) and Nuvigil (armodafinil) are used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adult patients with narcolepsy.

Nuvigil is also used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by sleep apnea or shift work sleep disorder.

Wakix and Nuvigil belong to different drug classes. Wakix is a histamine-3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist and Nuvigil is a wakefulness-promoting agent.

Side effects of Wakix and Nuvigil that are similar include insomnia, nausea, and anxiety.

Side effects of Nuvigil that are different from Wakix include headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, dry mouth, nervousness, and dizziness.

Both Wakix and Nuvigil may interact with antidepressants, seizure medications, rifampin, antibiotics, and cyclosporine.

Wakix may also interact with antihistamines, antiarrhythmics, hormonal contraceptives, and midazolam.

Nuvigil may also interact with propranolol, omeprazole, and sedatives.

Common side effects of Wakix include:

• insomnia,
• nausea, and
• anxiety

• headache,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• upset stomach,
• dry mouth,
• anxiety,
• nervousness,
• dizziness, and
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Nuvigil including:

• fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, or
• mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations, rare thoughts of suicide).

Wakix (pitolisant) is a histamine-3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist indicated for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adult patients with narcolepsy.

Nuvigil (armodafinil) is a wakefulness-promoting agent used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift work sleep disorder.

Wakix may interact with certain antidepressants, seizure medications, rifampin, antihistamines, antiarrhythmics, hormonal contraceptives, midazolam, and cyclosporine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Nuvigil may interact with cyclosporine, propranolol, omeprazole, rifampin, sedatives, seizure medications, antidepressants, or antibiotics. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Nuvigil should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended dosage range for Wakix is 17.8 mg to 35.6 mg daily.

The recommended dose of Nuvigil for patients with sleep apnea or narcolepsy is 150 mg or 250 mg given as a single dose in the morning. The recommended dose of Nuvigil for patients with shift work disorder is 150 mg given daily approximately 1 hour prior to the start of their work shift.