Wakix vs. Sunosi

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

Sunosi is also used to improve wakefulness in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Wakix and Sunosi belong to different drug classes. Wakix is a histamine-3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist and Sunosi is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI).

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

Side effects of Sunosi that are different from Wakix include headache and decreased appetite.

Wakix may interact with antidepressants, seizure medications, rifampin, antihistamines, antiarrhythmics, some antibiotics, hormonal contraceptives, midazolam, and cyclosporine.

Sunosi may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other drugs that increase blood pressure and/or heart rate, and dopaminergic drugs.

Sunosi may interact with other drugs.

Common side effects of Wakix include:

• insomnia,
• nausea, and
• anxiety

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

• headache,
• nausea,
• decreased appetite,
• insomnia, and
• anxiety

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.

Sunosi (solriamfetol) is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI) indicated to improve wakefulness in adult patients with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

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.

Sunosi may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other drugs that increase blood pressure and/or heart rate, and dopaminergic drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Sunosi; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to Sunosi during pregnancy. It is unknown if Sunosi passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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

Sunosi is administered once daily upon awakening. The starting dose of Sunosi for patients with narcolepsy is 75 mg once daily. The starting dose of Sunosi for patients with OSA is 37.5 mg once daily.