Key takeaways

  • Doctors prescribe Sunosi to increase wakefulness in adults with certain conditions. Sunosi can cause mild side effects such as headache and nausea. Its serious side effects include high blood pressure and mental health symptoms.
  • Sunosi is not a stimulant drug, but it shares some side effects with stimulants such as Provigil and Adderall. It does have a risk of misuse.
  • If you take or have recently stopped a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), talk with your doctor before starting Sunosi. (MAOIs are usually taken for depression.) Sunosi has serious risks concerning MAOIs.

Doctors prescribe Sunosi (solriamfetol) oral tablet to increase wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. Sunosi is not a stimulant drug.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Sunosi can cause. To learn more about Sunosi, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Sunosi overview.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Sunosi treatment. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Sunosi. These include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Sunosi unless your doctor recommends it.

Sunosi may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Sunosi may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Sunosi’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects reported with Sunosi include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Sunosi, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Sunosi and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Sunosi can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect didn’t occur in the drug’s studies, but it has been reported since Sunosi came on the market.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. They also can determine whether you should keep taking Sunosi.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Sunosi. If you have, they may switch you to a different treatment.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Sunosi’s side effects.

What are the contraindications for Sunosi?

Contraindications are factors or conditions that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to its risk of harm.

Sunosi has a contraindication concerning treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). (These drugs are usually taken for depression.) If you’re currently taking an MAOI, you should not take Sunosi. Also, if you’ve recently stopped taking an MAOI, you should wait until 14 days have passed before starting Sunosi. These are due to the risk of hypertensive reaction (also called hypertensive crisis).

With hypertensive reaction, the blood pressure rises to a dangerously high level. This can cause serious outcomes, including:

If you currently have a blood pressure problem, talk with your doctor before starting Sunosi. Also, let them know if you take or have recently taken an MAOI before starting Sunosi.

How do side effects of Sunosi compare with those of stimulants, such as Provigil and Adderall?

Sunosi (solriamfetol) and Provigil (modafinil) share some similar side effects. For example, people in Sunosi studies and Provigil studies reported headache, nausea, and insomnia. But unlike Sunosi, Provigil can also cause other symptoms such as back pain and runny nose.

Sunosi and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) also share some similar side effects. For example, in both Sunosi studies and Adderall studies, people reported symptoms of high blood pressure and increased heart rate. But unlike Adderall, Sunosi isn’t a stimulant drug, even though it may have side effects similar to stimulants.

Can Sunosi cause weight gain or weight loss?

Weight loss was a rare side effect reported in studies of Sunosi. But it’s not known for certain whether Sunosi was the cause. Decreased appetite is a commonly reported side effect of Sunosi, and this could lead to weight loss.

Weight gain was not a side effect reported in the drug’s studies.

If you have additional questions about Sunosi’s potential effects on body weight, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is there a risk of misuse with Sunosi?

Yes, Sunosi has a risk of misuse. With misuse, a person takes a drug in a way or for a reason other than how or why it was prescribed. Examples include taking the drug more often or at higher doses than recommended by your doctor.

You should take Sunosi only as your doctor has prescribed. Misuse increases the risk of overdose, which can lead to difficulty breathing, coma, and even death.

Learn more about some of the side effects Sunosi may cause.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure was a serious side effect reported in studies of Sunosi. High blood pressure is considered a silent condition because people who have it don’t always have symptoms.

Severe high blood pressure can be life threatening and is more likely to cause symptoms. These can include:

If you take other drugs that can increase blood pressure along with Sunosi, your risk of high blood pressure increases.

What might help

Talk with your doctor about all medical conditions you may have before starting Sunosi. If you have certain preexisting conditions, such as cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease, your doctor will likely watch you more closely while you’re taking Sunosi. They may also monitor your blood pressure and heart rate before you start this medication and throughout your treatment.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Sunosi, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Insomnia

Insomnia was a serious side effect reported in studies of Sunosi. Insomnia can cause symptoms such as:

  • trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both
  • consistently fragmented or interrupted sleep

What might help

Talk with your doctor if you experience insomnia symptoms while taking Sunosi. They can adjust your dosage or switch you to a different medication. They may also recommend practicing healthy sleep hygiene to help with these symptoms.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Sunosi treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Sharing notes with your doctor will help them learn more about how Sunosi affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Sunosi can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Sunosi is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Sunosi. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.