New Kid on the Block: A First Look at the Clinical Use of Pitolisant for Narcolepsy
Andrea Cuamatzi Castelan Castelan *
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Virginia Skiba
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Luisa Bazan
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Kenneth Moss
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Meeta Singh
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Christopher Drake
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Philip Cheng
Division of Sleep Medicine, Thomas Roth Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Highlight pitolisant as an effective treatment for narcolepsy.
Case Report: We describe two patients treated with pitolisant. Patient A showed decreased daytime sleepiness and improved social functioning. Patient B struggled to find a dose that kept side effects at a minimum.
Discussion: This orphan drug has a unique mechanism of action, that combined with dosing flexibility allows for a treatment option that can better attend to individual differences in patient needs.
Conclusion: The use of pitolisant presents some benefits and challenges, nonetheless offering a promising treatment for narcolepsy.
Keywords: Narcolepsy, pitolisant, excessive daytime sleepiness, histamine, histamine 3 receptor.