Nuvigil Armodafinil: Wake Promoting Medication for Narcolepsy

What Is Nuvigil Armodafinil?

Nuvigil is a wake-promoting drug.

Armodafinil (brand name Nuvigil) is similar to Modafinil (Provigil). However, it has a longer half-life than Modafinil. It is used in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness caused by shift work disorder, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy.

Nuvigil is also commonly used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, major depressive syndrome, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It helps to prevent sleep during work hours if you have a work schedule that prevents you from having a normal sleep routine.

Does Nuvigil Armodafinil Cure Sleep Disorders?

Nuvigil may not get rid of all your sleepiness or cure obstructive sleep apnea. Also, it does not replace getting enough sleep. However, you should consult your physician if you have excessive sleepiness even during the use of medication. It is not recommended for the treatment of tiredness or holding enough sleep, and shouldn’t be used by people who do not have a sleep disorder.

How Does Nuvigil Work in the Treatment of Sleep Disorders?

Armodafinil is an oral medicament, similar to Provigil. Like other amphetamines, Nuvigil stimulates the brain to promote wakefulness. How this drug keeps you awake is not known. However, this medicine may work by increasing the level of a chemical neurotransmitter (dopamine), which nerves use to communicate with each other in the brain. It does this by reducing the reuptake of dopamine into nerves. In layman terms, Armodafinil works by affecting some substances in the brain that control the sleep/wake cycle.

Instructions on Taking Nuvigil

In the treatment of obstructive sleep disorder and narcolepsy, 150mg or 250mg dose of Armodafinil is taken once daily (in the morning). For shift work disorder, however, 150mg of the drug one hour before work starts. The medication usually takes about twelve weeks, or according to doctor’s instruction.

Take the drug in accordance with a doctor’s prescription.  It isn’t advisable to take more or less than the recommended dosage. Ensure you follow the instructions on the label for safe and effective use, and consult your doctor if you have any question.

What Should You Discuss with Your Doctor before Using Nuvigil Armodafinil?

Nuvigil should not be used if you are allergic to Armodafinil. And before you commence your treatment with this active substance, tell your physician about any history of alcohol or drug addiction, if you have high blood pressure or heart disease, kidney or liver disease, a history of mental illness, a heart valve disorder, or if you have had a heart attack recently.

Other medications might react with Nuvigil, so make sure you tell your doctor about all medicaments you use. This includes vitamins, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products. Also, you should not add any new medication without informing your physician.

Many people using drugs similar to Armodafinil have experienced severe skin rashes that require hospitalization. These rashes typically occur within one to five weeks after the first dose.

Another aspect that requires caution in the usage of this drug is during pregnancy. Since it is not yet if Nuvigil is safe during pregnancy, let your doctor know you are pregnant, or you plan to have a baby soon while using Nuvigil. Armodafinil can reduce the efficiency of certain birth controls for up to a month after you have stopped the medication. To prevent pregnancy, you can seek your doctor’s approval to use a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a spermicide, diaphragm, or condom). Always be careful to buy generic nuvigil online and use the trusted websites like meds4sure.

It is also imperative to inform your physician if you’re breastfeeding a baby. It is unknown whether this drug could harm a nursing baby, or if it passes into breast milk. Moreover, this medicament should not be given to children, or anyone younger than seventeen years old.

Moreover, Nuvigil may affect your reactions or thinking. Besides, you should be careful not to take this medication when you do anything that requires alertness such as driving. You should also avoid other dangerous activity until you know how this drug affects your body. Alchohol should also be avoided when taking Armodafinil.

What are Common Side Effects of Nuvigil Armodafinil?

Like other prescription drugs, Nuvigil has some side effects. Users are advised to get medical help if they experience an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, hives and swelling of lips, tongue, throat, or face.

Also, stop the use of this medicament and consult your physician if you have any of the following severe side effects when taking Armodafinil:

  • Any symptom of skin rashes, whether mild or severe
  • Headache, throat, peeling, vomiting, red skin rash, severe blistering, and fever
  • Difficulty swallowing and mouth sores
  • Irregular heartbeats and chest pain
  • Confusion, aggression, unusual behavior or thoughts, hallucinations
  • Bleeding or easy bruising
  • Loss of appetite, itching, upper stomach pain, jaundice, dark urine, clay-colored stools

Less severe side effects of Nuvigil:

  • Dry mouth
  • Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
  • Dizziness and headache
  • Anxiousness or nervousness
  • Upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea

Interaction with Other Drugs

Armodafinil’s interactions may change depending on how your medications work for severe side effects. Street drugs like methamphetamine, MDMA/”ecstasy” are examples of drugs that may interact with Nuvigil. Take note of all the drugs you use and share it with your pharmacist or doctor. Make sure you do not stop, start or change the dosage of any medication without approval from your doctor. Finally, do not share this medicine with others, as this is against the law.