Drug interactions
Pitolisant + Secobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Pitolisant and Secobarbital: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Enzyme induction by a barbiturate can reduce pitolisant concentrations and weaken its wake-promoting effect. Strong CYP3A4 inducers roughly halve pitolisant exposure. Pitolisant may also reduce sedation, offsetting some barbiturate effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pitolisant and Secobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Pitolisant belongs to Central Nervous System; Secobarbital belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
CYP3A4 induction by secobarbital increases pitolisant metabolism.
What to do
Monitor for loss of efficacy and consider increasing the pitolisant dose per labeling for strong inducers over about a week. Halve the dose again if the inducer is discontinued.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Secobarbital
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elbasvir / grazoprevir + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Isavuconazonium + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Secobarbital Contraindicated
Other interactions of Pitolisant
- Alfuzosin + Pitolisant Major
- Amiodarone + Pitolisant Major
- Amisulpride + Pitolisant Major
- Anagrelide + Pitolisant Major
- Asenapine + Pitolisant Major
- Bupropion + Pitolisant Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pitolisant with Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pitolisant and Secobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Enzyme induction by a barbiturate can reduce pitolisant concentrations and weaken its wake-promoting effect. Strong CYP3A4 inducers roughly halve pitolisant exposure. Pitolisant may also reduce sedation, offsetting some barbiturate effects.
How serious is the interaction between Pitolisant and Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for loss of efficacy and consider increasing the pitolisant dose per labeling for strong inducers over about a week. Halve the dose again if the inducer is discontinued.
What other medicines interact with Secobarbital?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Secobarbital with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Doravirine, Elbasvir / grazoprevir. The full list is on the Secobarbital page.
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