What is the use of Nuvigil (armodafinil)?

From the Guidelines

Nuvigil, also known as armodafinil, is a prescription medication primarily used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder 1.

Key Uses

• The medication is indicated to improve wakefulness in adults with these conditions.
• It is available in 50, 150, 200, and 250 mg tablets and is typically taken orally once daily, with or without food 1.

Dosage and Administration

• The recommended dose of Nuvigil is 150-250 mg taken orally once daily, and the duration of treatment is typically long-term.
• The dose may be adjusted based on individual patient response and tolerability.

Important Considerations

• Nuvigil is an FDA Schedule IV federally controlled substance because of its potential for abuse or dependency 1.
• It may cause fetal harm based on animal data, and human data are insufficient to determine risk 1.
• Armodafinil may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception 1.

Side Effects

• Commonly reported adverse events include headache, upper respiratory tract infections, dizziness, nausea, sinusitis, and somnolence 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Armodafinil tablets are indicated to improve wakefulness in adult patients with excessive sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, or shift work disorder (SWD). Armodafinil tablets are a prescription medicine used to improve wakefulness in adults who are very sleepy due to one of the following diagnosed sleep disorders: narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), shift work disorder (SWD).

The use of Nuvigil (armodafinil) is to improve wakefulness in adult patients with:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Narcolepsy
• Shift work disorder (SWD) 2 2

From the Research

Use of Nuvigil (Armodafinil)

• Nuvigil (armodafinil) is a wakefulness-promoting medication used to treat excessive sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, shift work disorder, or narcolepsy 3, 4, 5, 6.
• Armodafinil is the R-isomer of racemic modafinil and has a longer half-life, allowing for a longer duration of action 4, 5.
• The medication has been shown to be effective in improving wakefulness and reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with these conditions 3, 4, 5, 6.
• Armodafinil is generally well tolerated, with common adverse events including headache, nasopharyngitis, and insomnia 3, 6.
• The safety profile of armodafinil is consistent with that of modafinil, and it is classified as a non-narcotic Schedule IV compound 5.

Mechanism of Action

• The exact mechanism of action of armodafinil is not fully understood, but it is thought to indirectly increase wakefulness by inhibiting cortical γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release via serotonergic mechanisms 7.
• Armodafinil may also increase wakefulness by increasing the activity of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine 7.

Clinical Efficacy

• Armodafinil has been shown to be effective in reducing excessive daytime sleepiness and improving wakefulness in patients with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder 3, 4, 5, 6.
• The medication has also been shown to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries associated with excessive sleepiness 6.