Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Sunosi

Descriptions


Solriamfetol is used to improve wakefulness in adults with excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This medicine does not cure these conditions and will only work as long as you continue to take it.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of solriamfetol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of solriamfetol in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Furazolidone
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Linezolid
  • Methylene Blue
  • Moclobemide
  • Nialamide
  • Phenelzine
  • Procarbazine
  • Rasagiline
  • Safinamide
  • Selegiline
  • Tranylcypromine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) disease or
  • Cerebrovascular (brain or blood vessel) disease or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Mental illness (eg, bipolar disorder, psychosis), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Diabetes or
  • Heart attack, history of or
  • Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol in the blood) or
  • Stroke, history or—Use with caution. May increase risk for more side effects.
  • End-stage kidney disease—Use is not recommended in patients with this condition.
  • Kidney disease, moderate or severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of the slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

If you have sleep apnea and use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at night, continue using this machine with the medicine.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Take the tablet when you first wake up in the morning. Do not use it within 9 hours of your planned bedtime. You may find it harder to go to sleep when you take the tablet too close to your bedtime.

You may swallow the tablet whole or split it in half at the score line (middle of the tablet).

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For wakefulness in patients with narcolepsy:
      • Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For wakefulness in patients with sleep apnea:
      • Adults—At first, 37.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Mixed unused medicine with dirt, used coffee grounds, or kitty litter, then place it in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container before throwing into the trash. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine does not take the place of getting enough sleep. It should not be used for occasional sleepiness that has not been diagnosed as narcolepsy or sleep apnea. Ask your doctor for advice about good sleep habits.

Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI), such as isocarboxazid (Marplan®), linezolid (Zyvox®), phenelzine (Nardil®), selegiline (Eldepryl®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®) within the past 14 days.

Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. It may also increase your heat rate. This may cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or blurred vision. You might need to measure your blood pressure at home. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Anxiety

Less common

  1. Agitation
  2. chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
  3. cough
  4. fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  5. feeling jittery
  6. irritability
  7. restlessness
  8. tremor
  9. trouble breathing
  10. trouble sleeping

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Decreased appetite
  2. headache
  3. nausea

Less common

  1. Clenching, gnashing, or grinding teeth
  2. constipation
  3. decreased weight
  4. diarrhea
  5. dizziness
  6. dry mouth
  7. increased sweating
  8. stomach pain
  9. vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements/solriamfetol-oral-route/before-using/drg-20458456