Wakix vs. Provigil

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

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

Provigil is also used to increase wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness related to shiftwork sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Wakix and Provigil belong to different drug classes. Wakix is a histamine-3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist and Provigil is a stimulant.

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

Side effects of Provigil that are different from Wakix include headache, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, nervousness, agitation, and dry mouth.

Both Wakix and Provigil may interact with cyclosporine, hormonal contraceptives, seizure medications, and rifampin.

Wakix may also interact with antidepressants, antihistamines, antiarrhythmics, some antibiotics, and midazolam.

Provigil may also interact with alcohol, theophylline, warfarin, diazepam, propranolol, imipramine, desipramine, ketoconazole, and itraconazole.

Common side effects of Wakix include:

• insomnia,
• nausea, and
• anxiety

• headache,
• dizziness,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• nervousness,
• anxiety,
• agitation,
• dry mouth, and
• trouble sleeping (insomnia).

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Provigil including:

• fever,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• hallucinations,
• depression,
• chest pain,
• fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, or
• mental/mood changes (such as 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.

Provigil (modafinil) is a stimulant prescribed to increase wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness related to narcolepsy, shiftwork sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

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.

Provigil drug interactions include cyclosporine (Sandimmune), theophylline (Theo-24), hormonal contraceptives (for example, Micronor), warfarin (Coumadin), diazepam (Valium), propranolol (Inderal), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin), phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), rifampin (Rifadin), Ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox). Provigil has not been adequately studied in pregnant women and it is unknown if it is excreted in breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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

Provigil dosage is 200 or 400 mg daily.