Wakix (pitolisant) is a prescription oral tablet used in adults to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy due to narcolepsy. Wakix can interact with some supplements and other medications, such as certain antidepressants and antiseizure drugs.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Before you start taking Wakix, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Wakix interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Wakix?” section later.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Wakix. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Wakix. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
| certain antidepressants | • fluoxetine (Prozac) • bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, others) | can increase the risk of side effects from Wakix |
| certain antiseizure drugs | • carbamazepine (Tegretol, others) • phenytoin (Dilantin) | can make Wakix less effective |
| certain antiandrogen drugs | • apalutamide (Erleada) • enzalutamide (Xtandi) | can make Wakix less effective |
| certain antihistamines | • diphenhydramine (Benadryl) • promethazine | can make Wakix less effective |
| certain antipsychotic medications | • quetiapine (Seroquel) • olanzapine (Zyprexa) | can increase the risk of long QT syndrome |
| hormonal birth control | • ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel (Enskyce, others) • ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone (Loryna, others) | can make hormonal birth control less effective |
| quinidine | — | can increase the risk of side effects from Wakix |
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Wakix. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Wakix for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Wakix.
If you have a severe liver condition: It’s not known whether Wakix is safe for people with a severe liver condition. The drug hasn’t been studied in this population. Your liver is responsible for breaking down Wakix, and having a liver condition can cause your body to break down the drug more slowly than usual. This could cause levels of the drug to build up in your body, which raises your risk of side effects.
If you have a liver condition, talk with your doctor about whether Wakix is right for you.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wakix or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Wakix for you. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start using Wakix, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Wakix is safe for you to take.
Wakix is not known to interact with alcohol. But alcohol can affect sleep quality and could worsen narcolepsy symptoms in some people.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol with your condition or treatment plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Wakix.
Interaction with certain antidepressants
Wakix can interact with certain antidepressants, which are used to treat depression and other mental health conditions.
Examples of antidepressants that can interact with Wakix include:
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, others)
- paroxetine (Paxil)
What could happen
Taking Wakix with an antidepressant it interacts with can slow or block the activity of the enzyme (a type of protein) that breaks down Wakix in your body. This can increase the level of Wakix in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects from the drug.
What you can do
If you take Wakix with an antidepressant it interacts with, your doctor may prescribe a lower Wakix dosage for you.
If you have questions about taking Wakix with any of these antidepressants, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain antiseizure drugs
Wakix can interact with the antiseizure drugs carbamazepine (Tegretol, others) and phenytoin (Dilantin). These medications are used to treat seizures, among other uses.
What could happen
Taking phenytoin or carbamazepine with Wakix can make Wakix less effective. Phenytoin and carbamazepine can increase the activity of a certain enzyme that helps break down Wakix in your body. This can result in lower Wakix levels in your system, which may make the drug less effective.
What you can do
If you take Wakix with phenytoin or carbamazepine, your doctor may prescribe a higher Wakix dosage for you. You should not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor prescribes.
Interaction with certain antihistamines
Wakix can interact with antihistamines. Antihistamines have many uses, such as treating allergies or allergic reactions and treating nausea and vomiting.
Examples of antihistamines that interact with Wakix include:
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- promethazine (Promethegan)
- hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
- doxylamine (Unisom)
What could happen
Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, and Wakix works by increasing histamine in the brain. So taking certain antihistamines with Wakix may prevent Wakix from working.
What you can do
Your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid using an antihistamine that interacts with Wakix. Instead, they can discuss alternatives to either Wakix or the antihistamine.
Wakix may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Wakix.
Does Wakix interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Wakix, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Wakix interactions with herbs
Wakix can interact with St. John’s wort, which is used to ease symptoms of depression and other conditions. Combining St. John’s wort with Wakix could make Wakix less effective. Your doctor may suggest you avoid taking St. John’s wort if you’re prescribed Wakix.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking St. John’s wort or other herbal products while taking Wakix.
Wakix interactions with vitamins
There are currently no reports of Wakix interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Wakix.
Does Wakix interact with food?
There are currently no reports of Wakix interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Wakix, talk with your doctor.
Does Wakix interact with vaccines or lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Wakix interacting with vaccines or lab tests. If you have questions about receiving certain vaccines or having lab tests done during your Wakix treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Wakix interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Wakix interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Wakix.
However, your doctor may suggest avoiding cannabis if you have narcolepsy. Cannabis could worsen excessive daytime sleepiness, which Wakix is prescribed to treat.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Wakix. Before using Wakix, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Wakix is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Wakix include:
Long QT syndrome: Wakix lengthens the QT interval (a part of your heart’s rhythm). If you have long QT syndrome, the drug can worsen your condition. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Wakix if you have long QT syndrome.
Severe liver condition: It’s not known whether Wakix is safe for people with a severe liver condition. The drug hasn’t been studied in this population. Your liver is responsible for breaking down Wakix, and having a liver condition can cause your body to break down the drug more slowly than usual. This could cause levels of the drug to build up in your body, which raises your risk of side effects.
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Wakix is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before using Wakix.
If you do take Wakix while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Wakix. To learn more, call 1-800-833-7460 or visit the registry website. You can also talk with your doctor for more details.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Wakix while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk, but it isn’t known whether the drug may cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wakix or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Wakix. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Wakix and possible interactions.
How do the interactions of Wakix and Sunosi compare?
Like Wakix, solriamfetol (Sunosi) is prescribed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness related to narcolepsy. However, these drugs do not have similar interactions.
Examples of drug interactions that affect Wakix but not Sunosi include certain types of:
- antidepressants
- antiseizure drugs
- birth control
On the other hand, interactions that affect Sunosi but not Wakix include:
- drugs that affect dopamine, such as pramipexole or ropinirole
- drugs that increase blood pressure or heart rate, such as midodrine
To learn more about how Wakix and Sunosi compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Wakix interact with caffeine? Can I drink coffee while taking the drug?
Wakix isn’t known to interact with caffeine or coffee. So, in general, consuming coffee or caffeine while you’re taking Wakix shouldn’t cause any negative effects. However, your doctor may recommend that you avoid consuming caffeine close to bedtime.
In addition, caffeine can interact with certain other medications and medical conditions. Your doctor or pharmacist can review your health history and let you know whether it’s safe for you to consume caffeine.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Wakix. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Wakix treatment
It’s also important to understand Wakix’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Wakix exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.