Pitolisant, sold under the brand name Wakix among others, is a medication used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy.

[9] It was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in March 2016 for narcolepsy with or without cataplexy, and for excessive daytime sleepiness by the FDA in August 2019.

[4] Pitolisant is also indicated to improve alertness and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

[5][12] The most common side effects include insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, depression, tremor, sleep disorders, tiredness, vomiting, vertigo, dyspepsia, and heartburn.

[23] Pharmacokinetics Pitolisant is readily absorbed when taken by mouth and reaches peak blood concentrations approximately 3 hours after administration.

[11] The ESS asks participants to rate the likelihood that they would fall asleep while doing eight daily activities (such as sitting and reading or watching television).

[25] Pitolisant is approved in the European Union and the United States to treat narcolepsy, and is not a controlled substance in these countries.

[failed verification] Still, long-term studies comparing the effectiveness and tolerability of pitolisant with modafinil or sodium oxybate are lacking.