Sunosi Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

Does Sunosi interact with other drugs?

Before you start taking Sunosi, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Sunosi interacts with herbs, vitamins, or supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Sunosi?” section.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The table below lists drugs that may interact with Sunosi. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Sunosi. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.

When should I avoid Sunosi?

Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Sunosi. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Sunosi for you. These are known as contraindications. Sunosi has a contraindication, which is:

• If you take an MAOI: Doctors usually won’t prescribe Sunosi along with a type of antidepressant called an MAOI. Taking Sunosi with an MAOI raises your risk of severely high blood pressure as a side effect. This side effect can lead to life threatening complications, including heart attack. Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil) and selegiline (Emsam). You should not take Sunosi for at least 14 days following your last dose of an MAOI.

Before you start taking Sunosi, talk with your doctor if the factor above applies to you. Your doctor can determine whether Sunosi is safe for you.

Does Sunosi interact with alcohol?

Sunosi is not known to interact with alcohol. But Sunosi and alcohol both can cause some similar side effects, such as headache, nausea, and anxiety. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during Sunosi treatment.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Sunosi, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions explained

Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Sunosi.

Interaction with dopamine agonists

Sunosi can interact with dopamine agonists. These medications treat Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, and certain other conditions.

Examples of dopamine agonist medications are:

• pramipexole (Mirapex ER)
• ropinirole
• apomorphine (Apokyn)
• bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel)
• rotigotine (Neupro)

What could happen

Taking Sunosi along with a dopamine agonist can increase the risk of side effects from both drugs. These side effects include:

• nausea and vomiting
• tremor
• mood or behavioral changes

What you can do

Your doctor may avoid prescribing Sunosi and a dopamine agonist together. But if they do, they may monitor you closely for side effects during your treatment.

If you take Sunosi and a dopamine agonist together, watch for the side effects listed above. Let your doctor know if you develop any.

Interaction with SNRIs

Sunosi can interact with SNRIs. These drugs treat certain mental health conditions, including depression.

Examples of SNRI medications include:

• duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
• levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
• venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

What could happen

Taking Sunosi along with an SNRI can increase the risk of certain side effects from both drugs. These include increased blood pressure and increased heart rate.

What you can do

Your doctor may avoid prescribing Sunosi along with an SNRI. But if they do, they may monitor you closely for increased blood pressure or heart rate during treatment.

When taking these drugs together, watch for symptoms of increased blood pressure or increased heart rate. If you develop any, let your doctor know right away. These symptoms include:

• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• heart palpitations

Interaction with stimulants

Sunosi can interact with stimulants, which are used to treat conditions such as:

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• excessive daytime sleepiness from narcolepsy
• excessive daytime sleepiness from OSA

Examples of stimulant medications include:

• dextroamphetamine salts and amphetamine salts (Adderall)
• modafinil (Provigil)
• phentermine
• methylphenidate (Ritalin, others)
• lisdexamfetamine

What could happen

Taking Sunosi along with stimulants can raise your risk of certain side effects caused by both drugs. These side effects include increased blood pressure and increased heart rate.

What you can do

Your doctor may avoid prescribing Sunosi along with a stimulant. These medications are prescribed for some of the same uses. It’s not known whether taking them together is effective or safe.

When taking these drugs together, watch for symptoms of increased blood pressure or increased heart rate. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms, which include:

• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• heart palpitations

If you have questions about taking Sunosi with a stimulant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are there other interactions with Sunosi?

Sunosi may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that this information does not include all other interactions possible with Sunosi.

Does Sunosi interact with supplements?

Before you start taking Sunosi, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs, vitamins, or supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.

It’s important to note that Sunosi can interact with caffeine. This includes caffeine tablets as well as supplements that may contain caffeine. For example, certain pre-workout supplements contain caffeine.

Taking a supplement that contains caffeine during Sunosi treatment can increase your risk of side effects. These include side effects from Sunosi or caffeine, such as increased blood pressure or increased heart rate. Your doctor may suggest limiting or avoiding caffeine products during your Sunosi treatment.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Sunosi and herbs

Sunosi currently has no reports of interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Sunosi.

Sunosi and vitamins

Sunosi currently has no reports of interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with vitamins won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Sunosi.

Does Sunosi interact with food?

Sunosi can interact with caffeine, which is found in certain foods and drinks. Consuming caffeine while taking Sunosi can increase your risk of certain side effects from Sunosi or caffeine. These include increased blood pressure or increased heart rate.

Some examples of food and drinks that contain caffeine include:

• coffee
• some teas, such as green tea
• chocolate
• certain energy drinks

Your doctor may suggest limiting or avoiding caffeine during Sunosi treatment. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about consuming caffeine during Sunosi treatment.

Does Sunosi interact with vaccines?

Sunosi currently has no reports of interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Sunosi treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Sunosi interact with lab tests?

Sunosi currently has no reports of interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Sunosi, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.

Does Sunosi interact with cannabis or CBD?

Sunosi currently has no reports of interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Sunosi.

It’s important to note that certain cannabis strains or products may make you sleepy or drowsy. Keep in mind that Sunosi is prescribed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness from narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Does my health history affect whether I should take Sunosi?

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Sunosi. Before taking Sunosi, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Sunosi is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Sunosi include:

Heart condition, including arrhythmia or high blood pressure: Sunosi can cause increased blood pressure and an increased heart rate. If you have an existing heart condition, taking Sunosi could worsen your condition. (Be aware that these conditions include existing high blood pressure and arrhythmia.) Your doctor may want to monitor you closely for these effects if they prescribe Sunosi.

Kidney condition: Your body relies on your kidneys to clear Sunosi. If you have a kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease, the level of Sunosi in your system may build up. This can increase your risk of side effects that the medication may cause. Your doctor can determine whether Sunosi is safe for you to take based on the severity of your kidney condition.

Mental health condition, especially bipolar disorder or psychosis: Sunosi can cause bipolar disorder or psychosis as a side effect. Taking Sunosi may worsen existing mental health conditions if you have one. Examples of these conditions are bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Your doctor can help determine whether Sunosi is safe for you.

Risk factors for heart disease: Diabetes and high cholesterol are risk factors for heart disease. If you have either condition or other factors for heart disease, let your doctor know before you start Sunosi treatment. You may be at higher risk of heart-related side effects from Sunosi.

Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Sunosi is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Sunosi.

If you do take Sunosi while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Sunosi. To learn more, call 1-877-283-6220 or talk with your doctor.

Breastfeeding: Sunosi passes into breast milk, and the drug may cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed. These side effects can include:

• agitation
• trouble sleeping
• difficulty gaining weight

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Sunosi or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Sunosi. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Sunosi cost and savings

As with any drug, the cost of Sunosi may vary depending on several factors, including your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you qualify for any savings programs. Even without health insurance, using a third-party discount card can help lower your out-of-pocket costs. To learn more, see this article on Sunosi’s cost in 2026.

How can I prevent interactions?

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Sunosi. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:

• whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
• other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they also can help you fill out a medication list)
• what to do if you start taking a new drug during Sunosi treatment

It’s also important to understand Sunosi’s label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. Colored stickers that describe interactions may be on the label. And the paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Sunosi, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)

If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Taking Sunosi exactly as prescribed also can help prevent interactions.