About pitolisant
Histamine H3-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist
Used for
- Improves excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy.
- May improve cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy.
Usual adult dose
Usually starts at 8.9 mg once each morning; increased weekly to 17.8 mg, then 35.6 mg if needed. Maximum 35.6 mg daily.
Common side effects
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Anxiety
Important warnings
- Can prolong the heart’s electrical interval; avoid with certain heart conditions or medicines.
- Use lower doses with liver or kidney problems.
- May reduce hormonal contraceptive effectiveness; use alternative contraception during treatment and for 21 days after stopping.
- Can impair driving if sleepiness is not controlled.
Pregnancy
Avoid during pregnancy unless clearly necessary; human safety information is limited.
Breastfeeding
Not recommended; whether pitolisant passes into breast milk is unknown.
Interactions
- Strong CYP2D6 inhibitors can increase pitolisant levels.
- Strong CYP3A4 inducers can reduce pitolisant levels.
- Pitolisant may reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives.
- Avoid combining with medicines that prolong the QT interval when possible.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.