Dosing & Drug Interactions

Dosing WAKIX With Other Medications

Some medications have clinically important drug interactions with WAKIX

Choose from the drop-down menu or from the drug categories below.

This tool is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of drug interactions with WAKIX, and some drugs may have other interactions and/or safety considerations. Before prescribing, always consult the Full Prescribing Information for WAKIX as well as for concomitant medications.

Amiodarone Bupropion Carbamazepine Chlorpromazine Clomipramine Cyclosporine Diphenhydramine Disopyramide
Hormonal contraceptives Imipramine Midazolam Mirtazapine Moxifloxacin Paroxetine Pheniramine maleate Phenytoin
Procainamide Promethazine Quinidine Rifampin Sotalol Thioridazine Ziprasidone
 
Amiodarone Bupropion Carbamazepine Chlorpromazine Clomipramine Cyclosporine Diphenhydramine Disopyramide Hormonal
contraceptives Imipramine Midazolam Mirtazapine
Moxifloxacin Paroxetine Pheniramine
maleate Phenytoin Procainamide Promethazine Quinidine Rifampin Sotalol Thioridazine Ziprasidone
 

Concomitant administration of WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors increases WAKIX exposure by 2.2-fold

Dosage modifications for WAKIX are recommended with concomitant use with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors

Examples1:
  • Bupropion, Paroxetine

Initiating WAKIX in Adult Patients Currently Receiving Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors

Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in adult patients graphic

Initiating WAKIX in Pediatric Patients (6 Years and Older) Currently Receiving Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors

For pediatric patients weighing <40 kg: Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in pediatric patients less than 40 kg graphic

For pediatric patients weighing ≥40 kg: Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in pediatric patients 40 kg or above graphic

Initiating Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

For adult and pediatric patients on a stable dose of WAKIX: Reduce the WAKIX dose by half upon initiating strong CYP2D6 inhibitors

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Concomitant use of WAKIX with strong CYP3A4 inducers decreases WAKIX exposure by 50%

Dosage modifications for WAKIX may be required with concomitant use with strong CYP3A4 inducers

Examples1:
  • Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Rifampin

Initiating Strong CYP3A4 Inducers in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

Assess for loss of efficacy of WAKIX after initiation of a strong CYP3A4 inducer

For adult and pediatric patients stable on WAKIX 8.9 mg or 17.8 mg once daily, increase the dose of WAKIX to double the original daily dose over 7 days

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP3A4 inducers graphic

Discontinuing Concomitant Strong CYP3A4 Inducers in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

If concomitant dosing of a strong CYP3A4 inducer is discontinued, decrease WAKIX dosage by half

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Examples:
  • Certain antihistamines2: Diphenhydramine, Pheniramine maleate, Promethazine
  • Certain tri- or tetracyclic antidepressants: Clomipramine,3 Imipramine,3 Mirtazapine3,4

Concomitant use of WAKIX with centrally acting histamine 1 (H1) receptor antagonists may reduce the effectiveness of WAKIX

Avoid use of centrally acting H1 receptor antagonists

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Examples5:
  • Class 1A antiarrhythmics: Disopyramide, Procainamide, Quinidine
  • Class 3 antiarrhythmics: Amiodarone, Sotalol
  • Certain antipsychotics: Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine, Ziprasidone
  • Certain antibiotics: Moxifloxacin

Concomitant use of WAKIX with drugs that prolong the QT interval may add to the QT effects of WAKIX and increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia

Avoid use of WAKIX in combination with other drugs known to prolong the QT interval

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Examples:
  • Cyclosporine,6 Hormonal contraceptives, Midazolam1

Concomitant use of WAKIX with sensitive CYP3A4 substrates may reduce the effectiveness of sensitive CYP3A4 substrates

The effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during treatment with WAKIX and for 21 days after discontinuing therapy

Patients using hormonal contraception should be advised to use an alternative non-hormonal contraceptive method during treatment with WAKIX and for at least 21 days after discontinuation of WAKIX

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Concomitant administration of WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors increases WAKIX exposure by 2.2-fold

Dosage modifications for WAKIX are recommended with concomitant use with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors

Examples1:
Bupropion, Paroxetine

Initiating WAKIX in Adult Patients Currently Receiving Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors

Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in adult patients graphic

Initiating WAKIX in Pediatric Patients (6 Years and Older) Currently Receiving Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors

For pediatric patients weighing <40 kg: Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in pediatric patients less than 40 kg graphic

For pediatric patients weighing ≥40 kg: Titrate WAKIX to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors in pediatric patients 40 kg or above graphic

Initiating Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

For adult and pediatric patients on a stable dose of WAKIX: Reduce the WAKIX dose by half upon initiating strong CYP2D6 inhibitors

Concomitant use of WAKIX with strong CYP3A4 inducers decreases WAKIX exposure by 50%

Dosage modifications for WAKIX may be required with concomitant use with strong CYP3A4 inducers

Examples1:
Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Rifampin

Initiating Strong CYP3A4 Inducers in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

Assess for loss of efficacy of WAKIX after initiation of a strong CYP3A4 inducer

For adult and pediatric patients stable on WAKIX 8.9 mg or 17.8 mg once daily, increase the dose of WAKIX to double the original daily dose over 7 days

Titration schedule for WAKIX with strong CYP3A4 inducers graphic

Discontinuing Concomitant Strong CYP3A4 Inducers in Patients on a Stable Dose of WAKIX

If concomitant dosing of a strong CYP3A4 inducer is discontinued, decrease WAKIX dosage by half

Examples:
Certain antihistamines2: Diphenhydramine, Pheniramine maleate, Promethazine
Certain tri- or tetracyclic antidepressants: Clomipramine,3 Imipramine,3 Mirtazapine3,4

Concomitant use of WAKIX with centrally acting histamine 1 (H1) receptor antagonists may reduce the effectiveness of WAKIX

Avoid use of centrally acting H1 receptor antagonists

Examples5:
Class 1A antiarrhythmics: Disopyramide, Procainamide, Quinidine
Class 3 antiarrhythmics: Amiodarone, Sotalol
Certain antipsychotics: Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine, Ziprasidone
Certain antibiotics: Moxifloxacin

Concomitant use of WAKIX with drugs that prolong the QT interval may add to the QT effects of WAKIX and increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia

Avoid use of WAKIX in combination with other drugs known to prolong the QT interval

Examples:
Cyclosporine,6 Hormonal contraceptives, Midazolam1

Concomitant use of WAKIX with sensitive CYP3A4 substrates may reduce the effectiveness of sensitive CYP3A4 substrates

The effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during treatment with WAKIX and for 21 days after discontinuing therapy

 

Patients using hormonal contraception should be advised to use an alternative non-hormonal contraceptive method during treatment with WAKIX and for at least 21 days after discontinuation of WAKIX

Starting patients
on WAKIX »