Provigil Web

Provigil is a drug that keeps you awake. It has legitimate medical uses and is used for performance enhancement by the military for pilots and soldiers in combat situations. Provigil enhances short-term memory and lets users stay awake for extended periods.

Provigil Web is a non-profit non-biased information source for the medication Provigil (modafinil). We provide information on this drug, which helps people stay awake.

Provigil® - Wake-Promoting Agent

Provigil is the first in a new class of wake-promoting agents. Originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, today Provigil is the only FDA-approved prescription medicine for treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with OSAHS and SWSD.

It is marketed in the U.S. by Cephalon, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical firm headquartered in Pennsylvania. Other names for the drug include Vigicer® and Alertec®.

Chemical Abstracts Name: Acetamide, 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]- (9CI)

Other names: modafinil, modiodal

Provigil is structurally different from other central nervous system stimulants. Its mechanism is unknown but is different from traditional dopaminergic and catecholaminergic-enhancing stimulant drugs.

Provigil does not have the number of withdrawal problems that other stimulants have, and withdrawal effects are not as severe. Neither are negative side effects as typically bad. Provigil is not as strong as other stimulants such as Ritalin, for most people.

The United States FDA has classified Provigil a Schedule IV drug (low abuse potential).

Who should use it? Provigil is only approved for use by adults and children over the age of 16. It should only be taken by those suffering from sleep disorders.

Is just being sleepy a sleep disorder? No, but it is really up to your doctor to determine when you have a disorder, given all your symptoms, history, and other medical data. There has been a proposal to classify "subwakefulness syndrome" as an official sleep disorder. This means people aren't as awake as they want to be. But subwakefullness syndrome has not yet gained acceptance by the wide medical community. This is also called "subvigilance syndrome."

Is it safe to use? Provigil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. It has side effects and is not tolerated by everyone, but is generally considered safe by the medical community.

What are the ingredients in Provigil? The active ingredient is modafinil. Inactive ingredients include: lactose, microcrystalline, cellulose, pregelatinized starch, croscarmellose sodium, povidone and magnesium stearate.

Are there any side effects associated with taking Provigil?

Yes. The most common ones are headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, nervousness, anxiety and insomnia. In clinical trials, these side effects each occurred in more than 5% of patients.

What dosages are available?

Provigil is available in 100 milligram and 200 milligram dosages.

Do you need a prescription for Provigil?

Yes. Provigil is a controlled substance and can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. You do not have to go to your doctor every time you need a refill. Your doctor may call a prescription into your pharmacy or write the number of refills you may need on your prescription.

Millions of Americans experience excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS),and shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Provigil might help them feel more awake at the times when they need to be awake and may improve their concentration.

Provigil, a small, white and slightly oblong pill taken orally, is the first in a new class of wake-promoting drugs. Originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 for the treatment of EDS associated with narcolepsy, today Provigil is the only FDA-approved prescription medicine for treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with OSAHS and SWSD.

Wakefullness-promoting agent

Provigil acts on areas in the brain having to do with the sleep/wake mechanism. It increases alertness in sleepy individuals, but probably not to normal alertness levels. Provigil is rapidly absorbed the body and it’s at its most effective within two hours of ingestion.

Sleep Deficit?

Sleepiness significantly increases the potential for compromised attention, impaired cognition, lengthened reaction time, and negative mood. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) believes that sleepiness should be recognized as a serious signal that is understood as a risk factor and precursor to accident, injury, destruction and death. Two-thirds of all Americans don’t get enough sleep, according to the NSF. For those with critical attention responsibilities, including truck drivers and people who work night shifts on a permanent or rotating basis, sleepiness can make them more prone to accidents. In contrast, optimal alertness is a fundamental requirement for successful and safe functioning in our society. A reduction in sleepiness has the potential to reduce accidents and injuries believed to be associated with this disorder.

A Different Kind of Stimulant

Unlike caffeine and older prescription stimulants that affect the entire central nervous system which in turn leads to jitteriness, insomnia and prolonged bouts of sleep to make up for lost sleep, Provigil only seems to effect the part of the brain that keeps you awake. A person’s sleep patterns will usually revert back to normal after the effects of Provigil wear off. U.S. clinical trials have also demonstrated that Provigil is less likely to cause nervousness or withdrawal-like symptoms.

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