What Is Provigil?
Provigil (modafinil) is an oral prescription medication that reduces daytime sleepiness in people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. Provigil, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, is believed to work by increasing the availability of certain chemicals in the brain, most notably dopamine. Provigil is available in tablet form. Provigil is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. This means it has a potential for abuse and dependence but is less likely to cause dependence than stimulants like Adderall (a Schedule II controlled substance). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Provigil to improve wakefulness in adults with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and shift work sleep disorder.1Provigil does not cure these conditions and will only work for as long as you take it.
How to Take Provigil
Take Provigil by mouth exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider. You can take it with or without food, depending on your personal preference.1You should not change your dose or take it at a different time of day without speaking to your provider first. Avoid drinking alcohol, driving, and engaging in any potentially dangerous activities while taking Provigil Modafinil may be habit-forming. Never share modafinil with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away modafinil is against the law. Modafinil is usually taken each morning to prevent daytime sleepiness, or 1 hour before the start of a work shift to treat work-time sleep disorders. Modafinil is usually given for 12 weeks or less. If you are taking modafinil to treat sleepiness caused by obstructive sleep apnea, you may also be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine is an air pump connected to a mask that gently blows pressurized air into your nose while you sleep. The pump does not breathe for you, but the gentle force of air helps keep your airway open to prevent obstruction. Do not stop using your CPAP machine during sleep unless your doctor tells you to. The combination of treatment with CPAP and modafinil may be necessary to best treat your condition. Modafinil will not cure obstructive sleep apnea or treat its underlying causes. Follow your doctor's instructions about all your other treatments for this disorder.
Which drugs or supplements interact with modafinil ?
Modafinil can decrease or increase the activity of enzymes in the liver that metabolize (eliminate) other drugs. This can result in decreased levels of some drugs that reduce their effectiveness and increased levels of other drugs that leads to their toxicity. Modafinil treatment should be carefully monitored if taken with any of these drugs. Drugs which may have reduced effectiveness if taken with modafinil include cyclosporine (Sandimmune), theophylline, and hormonal contraceptives such as progestin-only or estrogen and progesterone containing drugs (for example, Micronor, Ortho-Novum 1/50). Alternative hormonal contraceptives or an additional non-drug form of contraception should be considered during treatment with modafinil, and treatment should continue for one month after modafinil therapy ends (since the effects of modafinil on contraceptive hormones may continue for several weeks). The effects of modafinil on hormonal contraceptives occurs if the hormones are taken by mouth, patch, or implant. Drugs that may show increased effects or toxicity if taken with modafinil include warfarin (Coumadin), diazepam (Valium), propranolol (Inderal), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin), phenytoin (Dilantin) and mephenytoin (Mesantoin). Some other drugs that may increase the effectiveness and/or toxicity of modafinil. These drugs include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and rifampin (Rifadin).Other drugs, such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox) may reduce the effectiveness of modafinil. Methylphenidate may delay the action of modafinil.
What Are the Side Effects of Provigil ?
Provigil has a relatively safe side effect profile. How some patients experience side effects even if they follow indications. Common, less severe ones include mild headache, backache, trouble sleeping, dizziness, nausea, indigestion, inflammation of the nose and nervousness. Users who suffered from headaches reported that increasing hydration and being sure to get enough food helped improve this side effect.One rare but severe side effect is an extreme rash, which is evidence of certain serious medical conditions. While a mild, non-threatening rash may also occur, it is not possible to reliably predict which rashes will become more serious. As such, it is recommended that intake of Provigil be discontinued at the first sign of any rash.
