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Wakix Tablets Dosage

Generic name: PITOLISANT HYDROCHLORIDE 4.45mg
Dosage form: tablet, film coated
Drug class: CNS stimulants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 27, 2024.

Recommended Dosage in Adult Patients

The recommended dosage range for WAKIX for the treatment of EDS or cataplexy in adult patients is 17.8 mg to 35.6 mg administered orally once daily in the morning upon wakening.

Titrate dosage as follows:

Week 1: Initiate with a dosage of 8.9 mg (two 4.45 mg tablets) once daily
Week 2: Increase dosage to 17.8 mg (one 17.8 mg tablet) once daily
Week 3: May increase to the maximum recommended dosage of 35.6 mg (two 17.8 mg tablets) once daily

Dose may be adjusted based on tolerability.

If a dose is missed, patients should take the next dose the following day in the morning upon wakening.

It may take up to 8 weeks for some patients to achieve a clinical response.

Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients 6 Years and Older

The recommended starting dosage of WAKIX for the treatment of EDS in pediatric patients 6 years and older is 4.45 mg administered orally once daily in the morning upon wakening.

Titrate dosage as follows:

Week 1: Initiate with a dosage of 4.45 mg (one 4.45 mg tablet) once daily
Week 2: Increase dosage to 8.9 mg (two 4.45 mg tablets) once daily
Week 3: Increase dosage to 17.8 mg (one 17.8 mg tablet) once daily, which is the maximum recommended dosage for patients weighing <40 kg
Week 4: For patients weighing ≥40 kg, may increase to the maximum recommended dosage of 35.6 mg (two 17.8 mg tablets) once daily

Dose may be adjusted based on tolerability. If a dose is missed, patients should take the next dose the following day in the morning upon wakening. It may take up to 8 weeks for some patients to achieve a clinical response.

Dosage Recommendations in Patients with Hepatic Impairment

Adult Patients with Moderate (Child-Pugh Class B) Hepatic Impairment

  • Initiate WAKIX at 8.9 mg once daily and increase after 14 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Pediatric Patients (6 years and older) with Moderate (Child-Pugh Class B) Hepatic Impairment

  • Pediatric patients weighing <40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 14 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
  • Pediatric patients weighing ≥40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 14 days to 8.9 mg once daily. May increase after another 14 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

WAKIX is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. WAKIX has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Dosage Recommendations in Patients with Renal Impairment and End-Stage Renal Disease

Adult Patients with eGFR <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2

  • Initiate WAKIX at 8.9 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Pediatric Patients (6 years and older) with eGFR <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2 (using the Schwartz equation, eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2)=(0.413*height in cm)/serum creatinine in mg/dL)

  • Pediatric patients weighing <40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
  • Pediatric patients weighing ≥40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to 8.9 mg once daily. May increase after another 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

WAKIX is not recommended in patients with eGFR less than 15 mL/minute/1.73 m2[see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Dosage Modifications for Concomitant Use with Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors and Strong CYP3A4 Inducers

Coadministration with Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors

  • Adult patients: Initiate WAKIX at 8.9 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
  • Pediatric patients (6 years and older) weighing <40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
  • Pediatric patients (6 years and older) weighing ≥40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to 8.9 mg once daily. May increase after another 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
  • Adult and pediatric patients on a stable dose of WAKIX: Reduce the WAKIX dose by half upon initiating strong CYP2D6 inhibitors [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Coadministration with Strong CYP3A4 Inducers

Concomitant use of WAKIX with strong CYP3A4 inducers decreases pitolisant exposure by 50%. Assess for loss of efficacy 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 (i.e., 17.8 mg or 35.6 mg, respectively) over 7 days.

If concomitant dosing of a strong CYP3A4 inducer is discontinued, decrease WAKIX dosage by half [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Dosage Recommendations in Patients Who Are Known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers (PMs)

Adult Patients

  • Initiate WAKIX at 8.9 mg once daily and titrate to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily after 7 days [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8), Clinical Pharmacology (12.5)].

Pediatric patients

  • Pediatric patients weighing <40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 8.9 mg once daily [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8), Clinical Pharmacology (12.5)].
  • Pediatric patients weighing ≥40 kg: Initiate WAKIX at 4.45 mg once daily and increase after 7 days to 8.9 mg once daily. May increase after another 7 days to a maximum recommended dosage of 17.8 mg once daily [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8), Clinical Pharmacology (12.5)].

Frequently asked questions

Further information

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