Armodafinil Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Armodafinil Tablet, sold under the brand name Nuvigil, is a prescription CNS stimulant that promotes wakefulness. It is used for narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder, but it is not a cure for these sleep disorders. It works by changing levels of certain natural brain chemicals involved in controlling sleep and wakefulness.

What is Armodafinil Tablet

Armodafinil is a prescription medicine that promotes wakefulness. It is sold under the brand name Nuvigil and is not a cure for sleep disorders.

Armodafinil Tablet uses

• Narcolepsy, a condition that causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), used along with treatments like a CPAP machine
• Shift Work Disorder (SWD), sleepiness caused by a work schedule that disrupts normal sleep

Benefits of Armodafinil Tablet

• Helps maintain wakefulness and focus throughout the day or during a work shift
• Contains the part of modafinil designed to give a longer-lasting wake-promoting effect

How Armodafinil Tablet works

Armodafinil changes the levels of certain natural brain chemicals in the area of the brain that controls sleep and wakefulness, though exactly how it works for sleep disorders isn't fully known.

Armodafinil Tablet dosage

Armodafinil is usually taken once a day. For narcolepsy or OSA, it is usually taken each morning. For shift work disorder, it is usually taken about one hour before the start of the work shift. It can be taken with or without food. Take it at the same time each day, and do not change the time without talking to your doctor. If taken too close to bedtime, it may be harder to fall asleep.

Continue using your CPAP machine or other prescribed treatments, since this medicine does not replace them. Keep taking it even if you feel well-rested, and do not stop without talking to your doctor. It is not approved for use in children.

Available forms and strengths

Tablet

Side effects of Armodafinil Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Insomnia or difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Dry mouth
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
• Numbness, burning, or tingling of hands or feet
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Thirst
• Sweating
• Frequent urination

Serious

• Severe skin reactions that spread and cause blistering and peeling
• Skin rash, hives, or sores in the mouth
• Fever, sore throat, or burning in the eyes
• Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, or lymph nodes
• Trouble swallowing, breathing, or hoarseness
• Shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, swelling of the legs, yellowing of skin or eyes, or dark urine
• Depression or thoughts of suicide
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
• Feeling anxious
• Mania (extreme increase in activity and talking)
• Aggressive behavior
• Chest pain, abnormal heartbeats, or trouble breathing (possible heart problem)

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause life-threatening rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Stop taking it and get medical help right away at the first sign of any rash.
• It may trigger or worsen mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, mania, or suicidal thoughts.
• It can cause heart-related problems like chest pain, high blood pressure, and abnormal heartbeats, especially in people with existing heart disease.
• This medicine can make hormonal birth control less effective. Use a backup method of birth control during treatment and for one month after stopping.
• This medicine is a controlled substance with a risk of misuse and dependence. Never share it with anyone else.
• This medicine is not known to be safe for an unborn baby and has been linked to poor fetal growth and miscarriage. It should only be used in pregnancy if absolutely necessary, and you should talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.
• It isn't known whether armodafinil passes into breast milk or could affect a nursing baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, as it may affect whether this medicine is safe for you.
• People with severe liver disease may need a lower dose because the medicine is removed from the body more slowly.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, since it's not known how alcohol will affect you, and it may increase drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired judgment.
• Don't drive a car, operate machinery, or do other potentially dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you, since it may not fully relieve your sleepiness.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C) away from moisture and heat
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Keep in the container it came in, tightly closed, away from excess heat and moisture, not in the bathroom
• Keep track of how many tablets are left so you know if any are missing
• Do not flush this medication down the toilet; use a medicine take-back program
• Dispose of unneeded medication so pets, children, and others cannot take it

When to see a doctor

• Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help right away if you have a severe skin reaction, rash, hives, mouth sores, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble swallowing or breathing, or hoarseness.
• Get medical help right away if you develop depression, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, extreme excitement or talking (mania), or aggressive behavior.
• Seek urgent medical attention if you have signs of a heart problem such as chest pain, abnormal heartbeat, or trouble breathing.
• If you think you've taken too much, get emergency medical help right away or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Pitolisant
• Solriamfetol
• Modafinil