Xywav vs. Sunosi
Are Xywav and Sunosi the Same Thing?
Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) and Sunosi (solriamfetol) are used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with narcolepsy.
Xywav is also used to treat cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy.
Sunosi is also used to improve wakefulness in adult patients with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Xywav and Sunosi belong to different drug classes. Xywav is a central nervous system depressant and Sunosi is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI).
Side effects of Xywav and Sunosi that are similar include headache, nausea, decreased appetite, and anxiety.
Side effects of Xywav that are different from Sunosi include dizziness, abnormal sleep behaviors (parasomnia), diarrhea, increased sweating, vomiting, bed wetting (in children), and weight loss.
Side effects of Sunosi that are different from Xywav include insomnia.
Xywav may interact with divalproex sodium, alcohol, sedative hypnotics, and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
Sunosi may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other drugs that increase blood pressure and/or heart rate, and dopaminergic drugs.
You could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you change the dose or stop using Xywav suddenly.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Xywav?
Side effects of Xywav include:
- headache,
- nausea,
- dizziness,
- decreased appetite,
- abnormal sleep behaviors (parasomnia),
- diarrhea,
- increased sweating,
- anxiety,
- vomiting,
- bed wetting (in children), and
- weight loss
What Are Possible Side Effects of Sunosi?
Common side effects of Sunosi include:
- headache,
- nausea,
- decreased appetite,
- insomnia, and
- anxiety
What Is Xywav?
Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) is a central nervous system depressant indicated for the treatment of cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients 7 years of age and older with narcolepsy.
What Is Sunosi?
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).
What Drugs Interact With Xywav?
Xywav may interact with other medicines such as:
- divalproex sodium,
- alcohol,
- sedative hypnotics, and
- other central nervous system (CNS) depressants
Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
What Drugs Interact With Sunosi?
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.
How Should Xywav be Taken?
The adult starting dose of Xywav is 4.5 g per night orally, divided into two doses. Titrate to effect in increments of up to 1.5 g per night per week. The recommended dosage range of Xywav for adults is 6 g to 9 g per night orally. The recommended pediatric starting dosage, titration regimen, and maximum total nightly dosage of Xywav are based on body weight.
How Should Sunosi be Taken?
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.