Modafinil

U.S. Brand Names

Provigil®

Canadian Brand Names

Alertec®; Provigil®

Mexican Brand Names

Modiodal

Pharmacologic Category

Stimulant

Reasons not to take this medicine

• Do not give this medicine to a child. Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have an allergy to modafinil, armodafinil, or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat breathing problems.

• This medicine is used to treat narcolepsy.

• This medicine is used to treat shift work sleep disorders.

How does it work?

• Modafinil stimulates the brain in adults to increase alertness.

• It stimulates the brain to increase rate of breathing.

How is it best taken?

• Shift work sleep disorder: Take 1 hour before the start of work.

• Narcolepsy: Take this medicine in the morning.

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is near bedtime, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.

• You may have certain heart tests before starting this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you abuse drugs, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, and fast heartbeat.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work to prevent pregnancy. Use another form of birth control while taking this medicine and for 1 month after treatment ends.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Nervous and excitable.

• Headache.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea.

• Inability to sleep.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Severe allergic reactions can rarely occur.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Severe headache.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 14:18:41.0

Modified: 2008-05-28 15:17:53.0

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