Nuvigil (Armodafinil) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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Sleep Disorder Drugs »

Sleep disorder drugs (hypnotic and sedative drugs) overview

Insomnia, a disorder of sleep, occurs occasionally in most people but usually lasts only a few days. The body then "corrects" itself naturally, and people return to a normal pattern of sleep. Insomnia may be short-term (less than three weeks) or chronic, lasting longer than three weeks. Contributing factors include, but are not limited to, poor sleeping habits, stress, jet lag, medications, disease, and depression. Chronic insomnia may warrant the use of sedative/hypnotics medications; however, it is important that the treating physician perform a complete diagnostic evaluation as well as take medication and substance abuse histories, to exclude secondary insomnia due to other conditions.

Hypnotics/sedatives medications (henceforth referred to as hypnotics) work, in general, by increasing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain. Neuro...

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Nuvigil Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking armodafanil (Nuvigil)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to armodafanil or modafanil (Provigil).

Before using armodafanil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

angina (chest pain);
cirrhosis or other liver problem;
kidney disease;
a heart muscle or valve disorder such as mitral valve prolapse;
a history of drug addiction;
if you take blood pressure medications; or
if you have recently had a heart attack.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use armodafanil, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

Skin rashes serious enough to require hospitalization have occurred in people using a medicine similar to armodafanil. These rashes usually occurred within 1 to 5 weeks after the first dose.

Stop taking armodafanil and call your doctor at the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how minor you think it might be.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Armodafanil can make certain types of birth control pills less effective, which could result in an unplanned pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about the best methods of birth control to use while taking armodafanil.

It is not known whether armodafanil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give armodafanil to anyone younger than 17 years old.

How should I take armodafanil (Nuvigil)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Armodafanil is usually given for 12 weeks or less. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Armodafanil 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.

If you are taking armodafanil 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 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 armodafanil may be necessary to best treat your condition.

Armodafanil will not cure obstructive sleep apnea or treat its underlying causes. Follow your doctor's instructions about all your other treatments for this disorder.

Talk with your doctor if you continue to have excessive sleepiness even while taking armodafanil.

Taking this medication does not take the place of getting enough sleep.

Store armodafanil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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