Can Provigil safely be used as an alternative to sleep?
No. Experts agree there is no medicinal "alternative" to sleep. While many people such as business men on tight deadlines, soldiers involved in combat, working parents with family obligations or students studying for big exams, employ Provigil to stay alert for long periods of time – even as much as a few days – without sleep, doctors warn that cutting back on sleep, even by one hour a night, can have long-term neurological and cardiovascular effects. Lack of sleep affects mental and physical performance, blood pressure, heart rate, insulin level and various hormone secretions.
How does Provigil differ from other wake promoting drugs/stimulants that affect a person’s central nervous system?
Unlike caffeine and older prescription stimulants like Addreall 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. Clinical trials have also demonstrated that Provigil is less likely to cause nervousness or withdrawal-like symptoms than other stimulants do.
The National Institutes of Health Sleep Plan calls for more research in the area of drugs like Provigil. The plan calls for “studies of the relative efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of pyscho-stimulants (e.g. methylphenidate (Ritalin), d-amphetamine (dexedrine), modafinil (Provigil), and caffeine)…related to sleep/wake measures in animal models and humans, including appropriate patient populations.
What are the ingredients in Provigil?
The active ingredient is modafinil, which was discovered by French researchers in the late 1970's. Modafinil is a memory-improving and mood-brightening psychostimulant. It enhances wakefulness and concentration. The effects of Modafinil are similar to those of traditional stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), but it has a novel mechanism of action entirely different from these other stimulants that is not yet fully understood. After more than two decades of research, scientists are still trying to figure out just how it manipulates the brain.
Inactive ingredients include: lactose, microcrystalline, cellulose, pregelatinized starch, croscarmellose sodium, povidone and magnesium stearate
Is there anything I should discuss with my doctor before taking Provigil?
Before taking Provigil, talk to your doctor about any medical conditions you may have, including if you:
- Are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are currently breast-feeding;
- Have high blood pressure or heart problems;
- Have liver or kidney problems;
- Have previously abused any stimulants or street drugs, such as cocaine;
- Have or have had a mental problem called psychosis;
- Are currently taking any medicines, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements; and,
- Drink large amounts of alcohol
Modafinil is in pregnancy category C, as defined by the FDA. It should only be used in pregnant or nursing women if the benefits outweigh the risks.
What precautions should I take when using Provigil for the first time?
Although Provigil has not been shown to produce functional impairment because it affects the body’s central nervous system, it may alter judgment, thinking or motor skills. You should not operate an automobile or other hazardous machinery until you know how Provigil affects you.
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. See also our page on getting Provigil from overseas pharmacies.
How much does Provigil cost?
Provigil is expensive, costing around $250 to $350 for a month’s supply. Cephalon has raised the price considerably in the past few years. According to The Wall St. Journal, the company twice raised the price in 2008 and the average wholesale price in late 2008 was $8.71, an increase of 74% from 2004.
Does insurance cover Provigil?
Many private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare managed care plans cover all or some of the cost of Provigil when prescribed for one of the FDA-approved uses.
Continue to Taking Provigil