What is Wakix?

Wakix is the first and only treatment approved by Health Canada for excessive daytime sleepiness by increasing histamine levels.

Let’s understand more about the medication, including its uses, side effects, and precautions to be followed.

How to use Wakix?

What are the approved label uses of Wakix?

• Wakix or Pitolisant is an oral prescription medication used to treat narcolepsy (a condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness). 
• It is also used Cataplexy (a condition where a person experiences episodes of muscle weakness that begin suddenly and last for a short time) in adults with narcolepsy. 
• Narcolepsy is a chronic illness that usually affects 1 in 2000 individuals. About 60-70% of people with narcolepsy experience Cataplexy. 

What are some off-label uses of Wakix?

There is no off-label use of the medicine so far.

It may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What are the instructions for Wakix?

Do not stop taking the medication without consulting with your doctor. Follow the instructions on the prescription label and ask your physician or pharmacist if you do not understand any instructions. 

• Wakix is available as a tablet to be taken orally. 
• It is usually prescribed once daily with or without food as soon as you wake up. Take the medication at the same time of the day every day. 
• Do not change the time of taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
• Take this medication regularly to get the maximum response of the treatment. 
• Wakix may decrease your sleepiness, but it will not cure your sleep disorder. Continue taking the treatment even if you feel well-rested. Do not increase your dose or use the drug longer than prescribed. 

The dosage depends upon your medical condition, the response of the treatment, and other medications that you are taking. Your physician may start you with a low dose and gradually increase the dose, not more than once, in 7 days. It may take eight weeks/2 months or longer to feel the maximum benefit of the treatment. 

If you miss your dose, skip the dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose. 

What are the ingredients in Wakix?

Pitolisant hydrochloride is the primary active ingredient in Wakix.

It belongs to a class of medications called H3 blockers. Pitolisant hydrochloride mainly acts by blocking H3 receptors and increasing the level of histamine (a natural chemical in the brain that controls sleep and wakefulness). Also, it promotes enhanced synthesis and release of histamine (exogenous).

How to store and dispose of Wakix?

• Store at 20°C to 25°C
• Keep it away from the reach of kids and pets

What are the side effects of Wakix?

Like all the medications, Wakix also has side effects. It is possible that you may experience the following side effects. Inform your physician if these symptoms are severe or if they do not do away;

• Rash
• Headache
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Stomach pain
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Muscle or joint pain
• Muscle weakness that begins suddenly and lasts for a short time
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep talking, sleep terrors, or difficulty moving when sleeping or upon waking
• Upper respiratory infection
• Anxiety

Some of these effects may be serious. If you experience any of them, please get in touch with your physician immediately;

• Hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Fainting

This is not a complete list. If you experience serious side effects or symptoms that are persistent, please contact your doctor immediately.

What are the most important contraindications when on Wakix?

Inform your healthcare provider in case of an allergy to Wakix or any other medication or any of the ingredients in Wakix. Ask your pharmacist or check the medication guide for a list of the ingredients. 

Do not take or inform your doctor if you have or had following conditions;

• Liver diseases
• Prolonged QT interval (a rare condition of the heart that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death)
• Heart diseases
• Low potassium levels in the blood 
• Low Magnesium levels in the blood 
• Kidney problems

Inform your doctor or dentist if you are on Wakix before having any surgery or dental procedure. 

Besides, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to be pregnant. Call your doctor immediately if you get pregnant while you are on Wakix. Also, if you are on oral contraceptives, Wakix may decrease the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives. You must use another form of birth control while you are on Wakix and 21 days after you stop taking the medication. 

You may consult your doctor on which type of contraception best suits you during and after your treatment with Wakix.  

What are the warnings and precautions of Wakix?

Inform your health worker about other prescription and non-prescription medications that you are taking. Also, inform about vitamins, herbal and nutritional supplements that you are taking or planning to take. 

The use of Wakix may lower the effectiveness of birth control pills. So, if you are on oral contraceptive pills, you will need a different birth control method.

Besides, it is best to avoid the use of alcohol. The interaction between alcohol and Wakix is not known. But alcohol affects your sleep, and thus it is best to avoid it. You can also take the help of your doctor for the same.

What are the most important interactions of Wakix?

Wakix may interact with any of the following medications or inform your doctor if you are taking any of the below-mentioned medication:

• Amiodarone
• Diphenhydramine
• Promethazine
• Carbamazepine
• Cyclosporine
• Bupropion
• Chlorpromazine
• Clomipramine
• Disopyramide
• Fluoxetine
• Imipramine
• Procainamide
• Rifampin
• Midazolam
• Moxifloxacin
• Quinidine
• sotalol

The list is not comprehensive, and other drugs may interact with Wakix. You should mention all the medications that you are taking and consult your doctor before starting the medication. 

Can I take Oral Contraceptive Pills While Taking Wakix?

Wakix may lower the effectiveness of oral birth control pills. So, it is best to use other contraceptive methods. You can consult your doctor to know the best option for you.

When can I Take Wakix?

It is best to take medicine in the morning when you wake up, as taking it later may make it challenging for you to sleep at night.

Is There A Generic Version to Wakix?

No. For now, there is no therapeutically equivalent version of Wakixavailable in Canada.

How Is Wakix Different from Others In The Treatment Of Ailment?

Wakix is the first and only treatment approved by Health Canada for excessive daytime sleepiness by increasing histamine levels.

Who Makes Wakix and What Is Their Manufacturing Record of Success?

Harmony Biosciences, a pharmaceutical company, has come up with Wakix. They offer innovative therapies for individuals with rare neurological disorders.