Dayvigo interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Dayvigo, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Dayvigo interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Dayvigo and other interactions” section below.)

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

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Dayvigo. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Dayvigo. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Dayvigo due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Dayvigo include:

Having narcolepsy

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Dayvigo for narcolepsy. This is because Dayvigo may worsen narcolepsy. People with narcolepsy have reduced brain signals that keep them awake during the day, and Dayvigo works by blocking the brain signals that keep you awake.

If you have narcolepsy and have difficulty sleeping at night, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.

Note: Before you start treatment with Dayvigo, it’s important to tell your doctor whether this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Dayvigo.

Your doctor will likely recommend that you not drink alcohol while taking Dayvigo.

Consuming alcohol and taking Dayvigo can increase your risk of Dayvigo side effects,* including:

• sleeping very heavily
• daytime sleepiness
• decreased alertness
• difficulty standing or walking
• memory problems

If you have concerns about avoiding alcohol while you’re taking Dayvigo, talk with your doctor before starting treatment.

* For details about Dayvigo’s side effects, see this article.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Dayvigo.

Opioids

Dayvigo can interact with opioids, which are powerful pain-relieving medications.

Interaction result: Taking Dayvigo with an opioid can increase your risk of side effects, such as sleeping very heavily and daytime sleepiness. To learn more about Dayvigo’s side effects, see this article.

Interaction explained: Dayvigo and opioids are both central nervous system (CNS) depressants. CNS depressants slow activity in your brain and nervous system. They can cause sleepiness, muscle weakness, coordination problems, slowed reaction times, and difficulty with thinking, judgment, and memory. You may have a raised risk of these side effects if you take Dayvigo with an opioid.

Examples of opioid drugs: Here are some opioid drugs that may interact with Dayvigo:

• morphine (MS Contin)
• oxycodone (OxyContin, others)
• tramadol (ConZip)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Dayvigo with an opioid, they’ll likely prescribe a dosage of one or both drugs that’s lower than is typical. Do not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor prescribes.

If you take Dayvigo with an opioid, be aware that you’re more likely to sleep very heavily. You’re also more likely to have sleepiness and reduced alertness during the day. This can affect your ability to safely drive or do other potentially dangerous activities, such as riding a bike or operating machinery.

If you have daytime sleepiness or other side effects while taking Dayvigo with an opioid, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely recommend that you stop taking Dayvigo.

Certain antimicrobials

Dayvigo can interact with certain antimicrobials, which are drugs prescribed to help treat infections. Antimicrobials include antibiotics that treat bacterial infections, antifungals that treat fungal infections, and HIV medications that treat HIV.

Interaction result: Taking Dayvigo with certain antimicrobials can increase your risk of Dayvigo’s side effects. These may include headache and daytime sleepiness. To learn more about Dayvigo’s side effects, see this article.

Interaction explained: Dayvigo is broken down by an enzyme (type of protein) in your liver called cytochrome p450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Certain antimicrobials are strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4, which means they stop this enzyme from working as well as it should. Taking Dayvigo with one of these antimicrobials can stop Dayvigo from being cleared from your body as well as it should be. This can raise your risk of Dayvigo’s side effects.

Examples of antimicrobial drugs: Here are some antimicrobial drugs that may interact with Dayvigo:

• certain antibiotics, such as:
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • clarithromycin
  • erythromycin (EryTab, others)
• certain antifungals, such as:
  • fluconazole (Diflucan)
  • itraconazole (Sporanox, others)
  • ketoconazole
• certain HIV drugs, such as:
  • cobicistat (Tybost)
  • nelfinavir (Viracept)
  • ritonavir (Norvir)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you take one of the antimicrobials listed above, your doctor will typically avoid prescribing Dayvigo. You can ask them about other insomnia treatments that may be better choices for you.

If you need an antimicrobial while taking Dayvigo, your doctor will typically avoid prescribing the antimicrobials listed above. They’ll typically prescribe an antimicrobial that doesn’t interact with Dayvigo.

If you need treatment with an antimicrobial that interacts with Dayvigo, your doctor may lower your Dayvigo dosage temporarily. Or they may have you stop taking Dayvigo during the course of the antimicrobial.

If you have questions or concerns about taking Dayvigo with an antimicrobial, talk with your doctor.

Certain H2 blockers

Dayvigo can interact with certain H2 blockers, which are prescribed to treat conditions caused by excess stomach acid, such as acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach ulcers.

Interaction result: Taking Dayvigo with certain H2 blockers can increase your risk of Dayvigo’s side effects, such as headache and daytime sleepiness. To learn more about Dayvigo’s side effects, see this article.

Interaction explained: Dayvigo is broken down by an enzyme (type of protein) in your liver called CYP3A4. Certain H2 blockers are mild inhibitors of CYP3A4, which means they reduce the action of this enzyme. Taking Dayvigo with one of these drugs can make Dayvigo build up in your body. This can raise your risk of Dayvigo’s side effects.

Examples of H2 blocker drugs: Here are some H2 blockers that may interact with Dayvigo:

• cimetidine (Tagamet HB)
• ranitidine

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Dayvigo with one of these H2 blockers, they’ll likely prescribe a low Dayvigo dosage. Do not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor recommends.

Some H2 blockers are available over the counter without a prescription. While you’re taking Dayvigo, you should not take over-the-counter ranitidine or cimetidine without first talking with your doctor.

Dayvigo may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Dayvigo.

Dayvigo interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Dayvigo, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

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

Dayvigo interactions with herbs

Doctors will typically recommend you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Dayvigo. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that some people take to treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of an enzyme in your body called CYP3A4. This enzyme helps break down Dayvigo.

By speeding up this enzyme, St. John’s wort can cause Dayvigo to break down more quickly. This may lead to a low level of Dayvigo in your system. If the level of Dayvigo in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat insomnia.

Your doctor may be able to suggest a treatment option other than St. John’s wort.

Your doctor will likely recommend that you also avoid taking herbs or supplements used as sleep aids with Dayvigo. Examples include chamomile, valerian root, and melatonin. Taking these supplements with Dayvigo could cause excessive sleepiness, including daytime sleepiness.

Dayvigo and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Dayvigo. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Dayvigo.

Dayvigo interactions with food

You should avoid taking Dayvigo with food. Food can slow the absorption of Dayvigo into your body, which can make it take longer to start working. Dayvigo works faster to help you fall asleep when you take it on an empty stomach.

Additionally, grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Dayvigo. Specifically, grapefruit products can stop your body from breaking down Dayvigo. This raises the level of Dayvigo in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Dayvigo.* Due to this risk, your doctor will likely recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

* For details about Dayvigo’s side effects, see this article.

Dayvigo interactions with vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Dayvigo and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Dayvigo interactions with lab tests

Dayvigo isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

DAYVIGO INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), haven’t been specifically reported to interact with Dayvigo. However, cannabis can cause sleepiness. So using cannabis with Dayvigo may increase your risk of excessive sleepiness, including daytime sleepiness.

Before you start treatment with Dayvigo, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

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

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Dayvigo. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Dayvigo may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Dayvigo include:

• Older age: If you’re age 65 years or older, taking Dayvigo may raise your risk of falls. Talk with your doctor about whether this medication is right for you.
• Narcolepsy: If you have narcolepsy, your doctor will likely not prescribe Dayvigo. This is because it could make your narcolepsy worse. Ask your doctor about other insomnia treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Lung or breathing problems: If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or sleep apnea, Dayvigo may affect your breathing. Talk with your doctor about whether this medication is safe for you.
• Depression or suicidal thoughts: Taking Dayvigo can worsen depression or suicidal thoughts. If you have a mental health condition, talk with your doctor about whether Dayvigo is a good option for you.
• Liver problems: If you have a liver problem, Dayvigo can build up in your body, which could raise your risk of its side effects. Your doctor may prescribe a low dosage of Dayvigo if you have a liver problem. But if the problem is severe, your doctor will likely not prescribe Dayvigo. You can ask them about other medications that may be safer for you.
• Past drug or alcohol misuse or psychological dependence: Dayvigo is a controlled substance that has risks of misuse and psychological dependence.* If you have a history of drug or alcohol use, you may have a raised risk of Dayvigo misuse. Talk with your doctor about whether Dayvigo is right for you. Misuse of this drug can cause harmful side effects and could lead to psychological dependence.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Dayvigo or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Dayvigo. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Dayvigo while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk, but it’s not known what effects Dayvigo may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before starting Dayvigo. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Dayvigo is safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Dayvigo. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

* A controlled substance is a drug the government regulates due to the risk of misuse or dependence. Misuse refers to taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. And with dependence, you may feel you need a drug to feel as you typically would.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Dayvigo. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Dayvigo label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Dayvigo doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Dayvigo by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Dayvigo. These resources might help:

• Overview of Dayvigo: For a general overview of Dayvigo, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Dayvigo, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Dayvigo prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Dayvigo, see this article.
• Facts about your condition: To learn more about insomnia, see our science of sleep hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.