Provigil

Provigil is a medication that is used for treating excessive sleepiness. It is specifically used to help people with sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift work sleep disorder stay awake. Provigil, which is available by prescription, comes in tablet form and is generally taken once a day. Side effects that have been reported with the drug include nausea, anxiety, headache, and insomnia.

 

What Is Provigil?

Provigil® (modafinil) is a prescription medicine used to help people stay awake. Specifically, it is approved to treat people with excessive sleepiness due to the following:
 
  • Narcolepsy
  • Sleep apnea (known medically as obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome or OSAHS)
  • Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), a problem in people who work night shifts or who frequently change between day and night work shifts.
     
(Click Provigil Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Provigil?

Provigil is made by Cephalon, Inc.
 

How Does Provigil Work?

At this time, it is not known exactly how Provigil works to promote wakefulness. It does not work like other stimulants. Provigil is known to affect certain brain chemicals, but this does not seem to be the way that the drug works, since blocking Provigil's effect on such chemicals does not stop it from working.
 

When and How to Take Provigil

General considerations for when and how to take Provigil include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth once a day.
     
  • You can take Provigil with or without food. If the medicine seems to bother your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Provigil will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dosing Information for Provigil

The dose of Provigil that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Provigil Dosage for more information.)
 

Side Effects of Provigil

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Provigil. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of Provigil include but are not limited to:
 
(Click Provigil Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

Drug Interactions With Provigil

Provigil can interact with a number of other medications (see Provigil Drug Interactions).
 

Provigil: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Provigil if you have:
 
  • Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
  • Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
  • Any heart condition or problem
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Provigil Warnings and Precautions to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

What If I Take an Overdose of Provigil?

People who take too much Provigil may have overdose symptoms that could include:
 
  • Anxiety, nervousness, irritability, or aggressiveness
  • Tremor (shakiness)
  • Feelings of a forcefully or rapidly beating heart (known as heart palpitations)
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Confusion or hallucinations
  • Loss of life.
     
If you happen to overdose on Provigil, seek immediate medical attention.
 
(Click Provigil Overdose for more information.)
 

How Should Provigil Be Stored?

Provigil should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep the tablets in an airtight container.
 
Keep Provigil and all other medications out of the reach of children.
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Provigil?

If you miss a dose of Provigil, in most cases, it is probably best to skip the missed dose, since taking it too late can cause insomnia and perhaps make your sleeping problems worse. If you remember within a few hours, however, you can probably take your missed dose without any problems.
 

Strengths of Provigil

Provigil tablets come in the following strengths:
 
  • Provigil 100 mg
  • Provigil 200 mg.
     

Is There a Generic Version of Provigil?

Currently, there are no generic versions of Provigil licensed for sale (see Generic Provigil).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;