Drug & supplement interaction

Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) + Pitolisant Hydrochloride

Pitolisant Hydrochloride brand name: Wakix.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Pitolisant Hydrochloride falls into 2 drug categories that Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, BMPEA might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2D6 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) and Pitolisant Hydrochloride

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) interacts with whole categories of medication. Pitolisant Hydrochloride falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Pitolisant Hydrochloride

Pitolisant Hydrochloride falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) interacts with.

Theoretically, BMPEA might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2D6 substrates.
In vitro research shows that BMPEA strongly inhibits CYP2D6.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for Wakix (pitolisant): your liver leans on an enzyme called CYP2D6 to clear this medicine out of your body. In lab studies, BMPEA appears to block that same enzyme. If it slows the breakdown of pitolisant, the drug could build up higher than intended, which may bring on or worsen its usual side effects like headache, trouble sleeping, nausea, anxiety, or a faster or irregular heartbeat.

I'll be honest, this is a theoretical concern drawn from test-tube research, not real-world cases, so the actual risk in people isn't proven. Still, BMPEA is a hidden amphetamine-like stimulant that can raise heart rate and blood pressure on its own, and I'd steer clear of it. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Liu Y, Santillo MF. Cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 enzyme inhibition by amine stimulants in dietary supplements. Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(3-4):307-10. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Pitolisant Hydrochloride also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, BMPEA might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that BMPEA inhibits CYP3A4 by up to 37%.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for Wakix (pitolisant). Your body clears this medicine partly through a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In lab studies, BMPEA appears to slow that enzyme down a bit (by about a third). If that holds true in people, pitolisant could clear out more slowly and build up, which might bump up its effects and side effects like headache, trouble sleeping at night, nausea, anxiety, or a faster heartbeat.

I want to be honest though: this is a theoretical concern based on test-tube data, not real human studies, so we don't actually know how much it matters. The bigger worry is BMPEA itself. It's a stimulant that can raise heart rate and blood pressure, and stacking it with pitolisant isn't a combo I'd be comfortable with. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Liu Y, Santillo MF. Cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 enzyme inhibition by amine stimulants in dietary supplements. Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(3-4):307-10. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) has 812 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Pitolisant Hydrochloride one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 812 No known interaction 2,018 (incl. Pitolisant Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea). Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Pitolisant Hydrochloride

This page covers Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pitolisant Hydrochloride page lists 158 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 114 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pitolisant Hydrochloride page

“Pitolisant (Wakix) keeps people with narcolepsy awake through the day, and it only works when a steady amount reaches the bloodstream. Most of the 158 supplement ingredients on this page can disturb exactly that, so this is a list worth slowing down for.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pitolisant Hydrochloride interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) and Pitolisant Hydrochloride Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)
Steady interest

#781 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Pitolisant Hydrochloride
Steady interest

#1,702 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)

What is Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)?

  • Weight loss
  • Pre-workout energy
  • Athletic performance
  • Appetite suppression
  • Mental focus

Beta-methylphenethylamine (BMPEA) is a synthetic stimulant chemically similar to amphetamine that has been found in some weight-loss and sports supplements, often without being clearly listed on the label. It is not an approved or well-studied dietary ingredient, and regulators have warned that it may carry real cardiovascular risks. Because of safety concerns and the lack of human research, it is best avoided.

Read the full Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Pitolisant

What Is Pitolisant Used For?

Brand name: Wakix

Wakix (pitolisant) is used to treat two hallmark problems of narcolepsy: excessive daytime sleepiness (feeling overwhelmingly tired and unable to stay awake during the day) and cataplexy (sudden episodes of muscle weakness or loss of muscle control, often triggered by emotion). It is approved for adults and children 6 years of age and older.

Both uses are specific to Wakix tablets taken by mouth. The drug is not approved for sleepiness or cataplexy caused by conditions other than narcolepsy.

See full Pitolisant drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
812Moderate
0Minor
2,017No known interaction
812 Moderate 2,017 No interaction
Moderate

812 interactions

Showing 60 of 812 moderate interactions — see all 812 on the Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) page.

No interaction 2,017 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,017 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) list.

See the full Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Pitolisant Hydrochloride, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Pitolisant Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Pitolisant Hydrochloride, ranked by severity Pitolisant drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) and Pitolisant Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) with Pitolisant Hydrochloride?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) and Pitolisant Hydrochloride?
Pitolisant Hydrochloride belongs to more than one drug category, and Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea) and Pitolisant Hydrochloride interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Pitolisant Hydrochloride and Beta-methylphenethylamine (bmpea)?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.