Provigil

What is it?

A non-amphetamine drug promoting wakefulness, available as dull-white tablets containing 100mg of modafenil.

Medical Uses

Narcolepsy (abnormal condition in which person suddenly falls asleep without warning during the day).

Dosage

Adults, 2 to 4 tablets in 2 divided doses in the morning and at midday or take as single morning dose. Elderly persons, ltablet each day at first with maximum dose of 4 daily, as long as no kidney or liver disease.

Special Care

Severe liver or kidney disease; patients with severe anxiety should be treated in a specialist centre. Patients with mild high blood pressure must receive monitoring for BF and heart rate. Women should use reliable, barrier contraception.

Avoid Use

Children, pregnancy, brecrstfeeding, chest pain, heart errhgthmies, moderate or severe high blood pressure, history of disease of left ventricle, ischnemic changes to ECG, prolapse of mitrel valve of heart associated with treatment with stimulants to CNS.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Antieonvulsants, oral contraceptives.

Known Side Effects

Euphoria, excitability, aggressiveness, anxiety, nervousness, dry mouth, tremor, itching, gasrtrointestinal upset, insomnia, stimulation of CNS, rapid heartbeat, anorexia, personality changes, headache, involuntary facial movements, raised level of alkaline phosphatase (an enzyme).

Manufacturer

Cephalon.