From the Guidelines
Nuvigil, also known as armodafinil, is primarily used for the treatment of narcolepsy in adults, as suggested by clinicians [ 1 ].
Key Uses
- Treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy
- Improvement of disease severity and quality of life in patients with narcolepsy
Important Considerations
- Armodafinil is a Schedule IV federally controlled substance due to 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 ]
Evidence Quality
The overall quality of evidence supporting the use of armodafinil for narcolepsy is moderate, downgraded due to imprecision [ 1 ]. However, studies have demonstrated clinically significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness and disease severity [ 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:
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.