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In this Article

• What is modafinil (Provigil)?
• What are the possible side effects of modafinil (Provigil)?
• What is the most important information I should know about modafinil (Provigil)?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking modafinil (Provigil)?
• How should I take modafinil (Provigil)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Provigil)?
• What happens if I overdose (Provigil)?
• What should I avoid while taking modafinil (Provigil)?
• What other drugs will affect modafinil (Provigil)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking modafinil (Provigil)?

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

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take modafanil:

• 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.

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

Stop taking modafinil 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. It is not known whether modafanil is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Modafinil 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 modafinil.

It is not known whether modafinil 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 modafinil to anyone younger than 16 years old.

How should I take modafinil (Provigil)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Modafinil 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.

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.

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.

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

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

Store modafinil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.