Provigil and Insomnia: An Introduction
Insomnia is a common side effect of
Provigil® (
modafinil). In studies, up to 5 percent of people who took the drug had problems with insomnia, compared to just 1 percent of people who took a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredient). Provigil is used to help people stay awake, and sometimes it works a little too well, preventing people from getting to sleep.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that involves one or more of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Experiencing non-refreshing sleep.
Provigil and Insomnia: Suggestions
In some cases, simply improving your sleep habits can be an effective
insomnia cure. Some tips for better sleep include:
- Keep a regular sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine in the four to six hours before bedtime.
- Don't exercise within two hours of bedtime. Exercising five or six hours before bedtime, however, may help you sleep more soundly.
- Don't eat large meals within two hours of bedtime.
- Don't nap later than 3 p.m.
- Sleep in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
- If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, do a quiet activity somewhere else and return to bed when you're sleepy.
- Wind down in the 30 minutes before bedtime with a relaxing pre-sleep ritual, such as a warm bath, soft music, or reading.
Make sure you are taking Provigil at the right time of the day. Taking it at the wrong time can greatly increase your risk of insomnia.
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