Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have a skin rash; itching; hives; hoarseness; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions affecting multiple body organs e. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: chest pain or discomfort, fever and chills, dark urine, headache, rash, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes or skin. If you think modafinil is not working properly after you have taken it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose. Instead, check with your doctor.
If you are using a medicine for birth control such as birth control pills, implants, shots, patches, vaginal rings, or an IUD , it may not work properly while you are taking modafinil. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control while you are using this medicine and for one month after your last dose.
Other forms of birth control include condoms, diaphragms, or contraceptive foams or jellies. Modafinil may cause some people to feel dizzy, drowsy, have trouble thinking or controlling movements, or trouble seeing clearly. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other jobs that require you to be alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.
Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms while taking the medicine: aggressive behavior, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, mania, thoughts of suicide, or other mental problems. If you have been taking this medicine for a long time or in large doses and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor. Some signs of dependence on modafinil are:. If you have been taking this medicine in large doses or for a long time, do not stop taking it without first checking with your doctor.
Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
This includes prescription or nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
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For those of you who are into genetic profiling, check if you have a genetic mutation that makes CYP2D6 — the enzyme responsible for metabolizing Modafinil — less efficient. In the majority of countries, this is indeed the case. You will definitely want to do your due diligence and research Modafinil's legal status in your country.
Here's how select countries treat Modafinil and the implications for getting a Modafinil prescription [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]:. United States of America — Schedule IV controlled substance; illegal to sell or possess Modafinil without a prescription. Canada — Schedule F controlled substance; prescription for human and animal use required. Russia — Schedule 2 controlled substance; can only be possessed if you have a prescription.
China — Class 1 psychotropic drug; not approved for medical use, and a licensed physician can only prescribe it for a three-day use. European Union countries — prescription is required to possess and use Modafinil.
When in doubt, assume that Modafinil is a controlled substance where it is illegal to possess or sell it without a doctor's prescription. Yet this has not stopped people getting their hands on Modafinil in any way they can. When avid nootropic users want to learn how to get a Modafinil prescription, the first thing they investigate is what Modafinil is typically prescribed for. Across the US, for example, it is perfectly acceptable for your doctor to sign off a prescription to a drug like Modafinil for off-label use [ 9 ]:.
They may also prescribe drugs at dosages or using methods of administration not specified on the label. However, off-label prescriptions in most jurisdictions come with a number of legal and medical risks for the prescribing doctor. And if you're trying to get Modafinil prescription for the sole purpose of pharmacological cognitive enhancement, there's a slim-to-none chance you'll succeed. Even if you do, don't expect your insurance company to cover it [ 10 ]. Here is a scenario as an example, let's assume you're in the United States and you want to get Modafinil prescribed for an approved condition.
In the 3 following cases, you likely would not have an issue getting a Modafinil prescription [ 11 ]:. Narcolepsy can be defined as a sleep disorder where people will suddenly fall asleep and find it difficult to stay awake during normal hours of the day due to excessive daytime sleepiness [ 12 ].
Since it can be life-threatening to have narcolepsy in certain careers and daily actions such as driving , narcolepsy requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor will likely subject you to a series of blood tests and laboratory tests and take certain measurements to assess your sleep patterns.
Only when you meet the necessary diagnostic criteria will you be prescribed a drug like Modafinil. Like narcolepsy, OSA is a serious medical issue that requires immediate treatment.
Patients with OSA have restricted air flow while sleeping to the point where the normal flow of air is stopped multiple times. This most often leads to snoring, but can also cause severe health problems such as hypertension and heart disease if left untreated [ 13 ]. And as with narcolepsy, your doctor will most likely subject you to a series of sleep tests and blood work, followed by a diagnosis to see if you have OSA, which will then lead to a decision as to whether Modafinil will help you with your daytime sleepiness or not.
Here is the official medical definition of SWSD [ 15 ]:. Symptoms include low energy, difficulty with concentrating, continually feeling tired after adequate sleep, and excessive sleepiness during times of the day where you need to be fully alert [ 15 ]. Any business owner, freelancer, or just about any self-employed individual who works online can claim that they have frequent moments where they pull all-nighters.
On the following days, they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness resulting from shift work disorder.
Even if you check off all of the boxes, your doctor may find other reasons to deny you a Modafinil prescription. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it will give you an idea of what a physician looks for [ 16 , 17 ]:. In the event you happen to get the green light for a Modafinil prescription, your doctor may periodically follow up and re-assess your need for Modafinil.
Based on all of the information we have presented; you probably have a good idea of how to get a Modafinil prescription. DO NOT fake your symptoms under any circumstance to trick your doctor into thinking you have a certain disease or disorder. Doctors are increasingly aware of young adults who attempt to get a diagnosis for prescription stimulants such as Adderall [ 18 ]. However, we do have input from readers and team members who have successfully obtained Modafinil prescriptions around the world — whether for shift work sleep disorder or off-label.
If you suffer from a certain condition where Modafinil has been shown to be safe and effective in a few human studies, read the corresponding studies well before your appointment and understand exactly how Modafinil may help you. Some of the off-label conditions that patients have received a Modafinil prescription for include [ 2 , 10 ]:. Alternatively, you may seek alternatives to solutions you have found to be ineffective in the past:.
In some cases, the brand-name drug and the generic version may be available in different forms and strengths. Provigil can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Provigil. This list does not include all possible side effects. For more information on the possible side effects of Provigil, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. In rare cases, Provigil can cause a severe rash within the first few weeks of taking it. It may occur along with vomiting and fever, and may lead to problems with the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart.
If you develop a rash while taking Provigil, call your doctor right away. These effects are more likely to happen in people with a heart condition or high blood pressure, but can occur in people without heart conditions. Symptoms can include:. If have these side effects, talk to your doctor right away. Your doctor may need to check you for heart conditions, or monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.
In some cases, these side effects can become severe. Although rare, some people have had thoughts of suicide, symptoms of psychosis such as delusions or hallucinations , mania, and aggression.
These side effects are more likely to happen in people who have had mental health problems in the past. Taking Provigil long-term may increase the risk of developing psychological and physical dependence.
Provigil abuse is not common. Before you drive while taking Provigil, wait until you know how the drug will affect you. Although Provigil helps reduce sleepiness in people with narcolepsy or other conditions, it may not provide full wakefulness. In addition, Provigil might cause certain side effects, such as dizziness or confusion, that may impair your ability to drive.
Provigil is FDA-approved for improving daytime sleepiness caused by the following medical conditions:. Provigil is sometimes used off-label for uses that are not FDA-approved.
Off-label use means the drug has been approved for one use, but is used for another. In other cases, Provigil may be misused for purposes that are not approved. Provigil is used off-label to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Although some research shows that it can improve symptoms of ADHD, other research shows no benefit. Taking Provigil along with antidepressants has been shown to improve symptoms of fatigue and excessive tiredness in people who have depression.
Provigil is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat symptoms of fatigue caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis MS. An analysis of clinical studies showed that Provigil can improve symptoms of fatigue in people with MS. Provigil is not usually prescribed off-label for treating anxiety. However, some people say that Provigil gives them more focus, calm, and confidence in social or stressful situations.
Because of this, Provigil may be misused for treating social anxiety or performance anxiety. If you have anxiety, talk with your doctor about what treatment options that might reduce your symptoms. Provigil can cause loss of appetite in some people who take it.
Because of this side effect, some people misuse Provigil as a weight loss aid. Misusing this drug could lead to abuse and dependence.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.
Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs. For daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea, the typical dosage is mg once a day in the morning. Higher doses are sometimes used, up to mg daily. However, these doses may not be any more effective than mg daily. For excessive sleepiness due to shift work sleep disorder, the typical dosage is mg taken about one hour before the start of your work shift.
If you have severe liver problems, your doctor will likely prescribe a lower dosage. The recommended dosage for people with this condition is typically mg daily. Seniors may be more sensitive to the effects of Provigil, especially side effects. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Yes, Provigil is usually taken long-term by people with narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
These are chronic conditions that often require long-term treatment to improve symptoms of daytime sleepiness. You can take Provigil with or without food. If the drug upsets your stomach, taking it with food might reduce this side effect. However, if you take it with food, Provigil might take slightly longer to start working.
Provigil tablets should not be crushed or split. Although Provigil is a stimulant, its chemical makeup is different from the makeup of other stimulants, such as amphetamines.
This includes Provigil. For instance, the National Collegiate Athletic Association lists stimulants such as Provigil as prohibited during sports.
Provigil can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Provigil. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Provigil. Before taking Provigil, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Several medications can lessen the activity of an enzyme called cytochrome P 3A4 in your body.
Taking these drugs with Provigil can cause your body to get rid of Provigil more slowly. This can cause more Provigil side effects. Provigil can increase the activity of an enzyme called cytochrome P 3A4 in your body.
This can cause your body to get rid of certain medications more quickly. As a result, these medications may become less effective. Provigil can reduce the activity of enzymes called cytochrome P 2C19 in your body.
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