Wakix

Wakix is a prescription medication used to treat EDS in adults with narcolepsy.

Wakix belongs to a group of drugs called antagonist/inverse agonists of the histamine-3 (H3) receptor. The way that Wakix works in adults with narcolepsy is not fully understood. It is thought that Wakix works by increasing histamine levels in the brain. Histamine is a natural chemical in the brain that is important for wakefulness.

This medication comes in tablet form. It is taken once daily in the morning.

Common side effects include insomnia, nausea, and anxiety.

Wakix is a prescription medicine for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adult patients with narcolepsy.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported. See "Wakix Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Wakix include:

• insomnia
• nausea
• anxiety 
• headache
• upper respiratory infection
• musculoskeletal pain
• heart rate increased
• decreased appetite

These are not all the possible side effects of Wakix. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• paroxetine
• fluoxetine
• bupropion
• rifampin
• carbamazepine
• phenytoin
• pheniramine maleate
• diphenhydramine
• promethazine 
• imipramine
• clomipramine
• mirtazapine
• quinidine
• procainamide
• disopyramide
• amiodarone
• sotalol
• ziprasidone
• chlorpromazine
• thioridazine
• moxifloxacin
• midazolam
• hormonal contraceptives
• cyclosporine

This is not a complete list of Wakix drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Wakix may cause serious side effects including:

• Changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have heart rhythm irregularities, were born with a heart condition, or the levels of electrolytes in your blood are too high or too low. Wakix has an effect on the electrical activity of the heart known as QT/QTc prolongation. Medicines with this effect can lead to disturbances in heart rhythm, which are more likely in patients with risk factors such as certain heart conditions, or when taken in combination with other medicines that affect QT. Tell your healthcare provider about all the other medicines you take. The risk of QT prolongation may be greater in patients with liver or kidney disease. Wakix is not recommended in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Do not use Wakix if you have severe liver disease.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Wakix there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Wakix, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• if you have heart rhythm irregularities, were born with a heart condition, or the levels of electrolytes in your blood are too high or too low
• have liver or kidney problems
• are taking other medications
• have responded differently to other medications in the past
• are allergic to any ingredient in Wakix
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. 

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women who are exposed to Wakix during pregnancy. You are encouraged to enroll in the Wakix pregnancy registry if you become pregnant while taking Wakix. To enroll or obtain information from the registry, call 1-800-833-7460.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wakix passes into breast milk. You and your doctor will decide if Wakix is right for you while you breastfeed.

Take Wakix exactly as prescribed.

Take Wakix tablets once daily in the morning, as soon as you wake up.

If you miss a dose, take the next dose the following morning as soon as you wake up.

Tell your healthcare provider about any improvements you notice as well as any potential side effects. Don’t stop or change the dose on your own without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Take Wakix exactly as your healthcare provider has prescribed.

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

Your healthcare provider may increase your dose each week to find the right dose for you. This process is called titration.

If you take too much Wakix call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

Store Wakix at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F.

Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.