Type of medicine: stimulant
Generic and brand names: modafinil, oral; Provigil
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat excessive sleepiness caused by sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. This medicine does not cure these sleep disorders, but may help the sleepiness caused by them.
This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Older adults and those with certain liver problems or kidney disease may need to take less than the usual dosage. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Hormonal birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, and implants may be less effective while you are taking this medicine and for 1Â month after you stop taking it. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Your healthcare provider will tell you the right time of day to take this medicine. Take this medicine regularly every day. Do not change the time of day you take this medicine unless you have talked to your healthcare provider. If you take this medicine too close to your bedtime, you may find it harder to go to sleep. Do not take more or less than your healthcare provider prescribes.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
Follow your healthcare provider’s advice on good sleep habits and other treatments.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: restlessness, aggressiveness, tremor, nervousness, confusion, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeat, hallucinations.
Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash. A rash may be a sign of a serious problem.
Your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly while you are taking this medicine. You may need regular blood pressure checks to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all your appointments.
If you take this medicine for sleep apnea, continue other treatments such as your CPAP machine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
Do not take any other prescription or nonprescription products unless your healthcare provider approves.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell your healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular heartbeat, chest pain, increased blood pressure, tremors or shaking movements, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, unusual thoughts or behavior, depression, rash, blisters or peeling skin, mouth sores, hoarseness, unusual bruising or bleeding, unusual nervousness; yellowing of skin or eyes; dark urine; trouble breathing; unusual weakness or tiredness.
Other: Headache, nausea, runny nose, nervousness, diarrhea, dry mouth, dizziness, loss of appetite, back pain, trouble sleeping, stomach upset.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
