What is the most important information I should know about modafinil?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to modafinil or armodafanil
(Nuvigil).
Before using modafinil, tell your doctor if you have angina (chest pain), liver or kidney
disease, a heart problem, a history of drug addiction, if you take blood pressure medication, or if
you have recently had a heart attack.
Modafinil affects the
central nervous system. This can cause effects that may impair
your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Avoid other dangerous activity until you know how this medication will affect your level of
wakefulness.
Stop taking modafinil and call your doctor if you have a skin rash, no matter how mild. A
medicine similar to modafinil has caused severe skin reactions serious enough to require
hospitalization. Other signs of a severe reaction include fever, sore throat, headache, and
vomiting with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
There may be other drugs that can interact with modafinil. Tell your doctor about all your
prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What is modafinil?
Modafinil is a medication that promotes wakefulness.
Modafinil is used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift
work sleep disorder.
Modafinil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking modafinil?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to modafinil or armodafanil
(Nuvigil).
Before using modafinil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
angina (chest pain);
-
cirrhosis or other liver problem;
-
kidney disease;
-
a heart muscle or valve disorder such as mitral valve
prolapse;
-
a history of drug addiction;
-
if you take blood pressure medications; or
-
if you have recently had a heart attack.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
modafinil, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
Skin rashes serious enough to require hospitalization have occurred in people using a
medicine similar to modafinil. These rashes usually occurred within 1 to 5 weeks after the first
dose.
Stop taking modafinil and call your doctor at the first sign of any skin rash, no matter
how minor you think it might be.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Modafinil can make certain types of
birth control pills less effective, which could
result in an unplanned pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about the best methods of birth control
to use while taking modafinil.
It is not known whether modafinil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a
baby.
Do not give modafinil to anyone younger than 16 years old.
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