Nuvigil (Armodafinil) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 10, 2012

Nuvigil

Sleep Related Breathing Disorders »

What are sleep related breathing disorders?

Sleep related breathing disorders are a group of disorders that affect our breathing while we are asleep, and are characterized by disruptions of normal breathing patterns that only occur during sleep. Therefore, the person with the disorder may be the last to know he or she has a problem. Sleep related breathing disorders constitute a subset of the broad group of sleep disorders that include many other disorders such as insomnia (difficulty sleeping), hypersomnias (inappropriately falling asleep, for example, narcolepsy), parasomnias (activities during sleep, for example, sleepwalking and sleep terrors), and sleep related movement disorders (for example, restless leg syndrome). The most common sleep related breathing disorders are snoring and sleep apnea.

Why do we sleep?

This is a complex topic that we only partially understand. Mammals, reptiles, birds, and even fruit flie...

Read the Sleep Related Breathing Disorders article »

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Nuvigil

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NUVIGIL®
(armodafinil) Tablets

DRUG DESCRIPTION

NUVIGIL® (armodafinil) is a wakefulness-promoting agent for oral administration. Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of modafinil which is a mixture of the R- and S-enantiomers. The chemical name for armodafinil is 2-[(R)-(diphenylmethyl) sulfinyl] acetamide. The molecular formula is C₁₅H₁₅NO₂S and the molecular weight is 273.35.

The chemical structure is:

NUVIGIL®
(armodafinil) Structural Formula Illustration

Armodafinil is a white to off-white, crystalline powder that is very slightly soluble in water, sparingly soluble in acetone and soluble in methanol. NUVIGIL tablets contain 50, 150 or 250 mg of armodafinil and the following inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and pregelatinized starch.

What are the possible side effects of armodafanil (Nuvigil)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using armodafanil and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, sore throat, headache, and vomiting with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
easy bruising or bleeding;
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your...

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What are the precautions when taking armodafinil (Nuvigil)?

Before taking armodafinil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to modafinil; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain heart problems (e.g., enlarged heart, mitral valve problem), history of problems (e.g., chest pain, irregular heartbeat) after taking stimulants such as amphetamines.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure, heart problems (e.g., chest pain, heart attack, irregular...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 1/14/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.