Nuvigil drug: Uses, indications and precautions when using

Nuvigil drug has the effect of reducing sleepiness caused by narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, helping you to be more awake during working hours,... Sometimes, the drug can be addictive, so users need to use it. medication exactly as recommended by the doctor.

Nuvigil (Armodafinil) is used to relieve extreme sleepiness caused by narcolepsy and other sleep disorders (sleep apnea). This drug is also used to keep the user awake during working hours. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain that control the sleep-wake cycle. However, Nuvigil is not used to treat other sleep disorders and it may not help you get rid of your sleepiness completely. Nuvigil is not used to treat fatigue or trouble sleeping in people who do not have a sleep disorder.

Users need to carefully read the drug instructions or follow the doctor's advice before starting the drug or before each time taking the drug again. If you have any questions about the use of the drug, you should ask your doctor.
Indications for drug use are as follows:
With narcolepsy and sleep apnea: Nuvigil should be taken by mouth as directed by a doctor (usually 1 time/day in the morning); If you are using Armodafinil for shift work sleep disorder, take it by mouth as prescribed by your doctor (usually once a day before the shift); You can take Nuvigil with or without food. However, if the medicine is taken with food, it will take longer for the medicine to take effect; If you are taking Nuvigil to treat sleep apnea, you will still need to continue with your other treatments, unless your doctor tells you to stop them; Dosage is based on the patient's medical condition and response to treatment. Regular use of the drug will maximize its benefits; If you suddenly stop using Nuvigil, you are at risk of withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea, vomiting, chills, confusion. To prevent this risk, users should reduce the dose of the drug slowly. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you use Nuvigil for a long time or in high doses; When using Nuvigil for a long time, it may not work. If you find that the medicine is not effective, you should talk to your doctor; Nuvigil can be addictive. This risk is increased if you have a substance use disorder (alcohol or drug abuse). Therefore, you should take the medicine exactly as prescribed; You should tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse after taking Nuvigil.

After taking Nuvigil, you may have a headache, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, nervousness or trouble sleeping. If these side effects persist or become more severe, the patient should notify the doctor immediately. Accordingly, you should tell your doctor right away if you experience serious side effects while using Nuvigil such as fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, mood changes (depression, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, etc.) , intending to commit suicide).
Take the patient to the emergency room right away if there is a very serious side effect such as chest pain. Serious allergic reactions are very rare in people using Nuvigil. However, if symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, itching or swelling of the face, tongue or throat are present, difficulty breathing or severe dizziness, seek medical attention. save now. There may still be other side effects of Nuvigil that have not been mentioned. If the patient experiences other side effects, the doctor should be informed immediately.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to Armodafinil, Modafinil or any other type of allergy. In addition, before using Nuvigil, you need to tell your doctor about your medical history, especially of the following conditions: Heart problems (enlarged heart, chest pain, mitral valve disease, pain). heart problems, irregular heartbeat), heart problems after taking stimulants (chest pain, irregular heartbeat), high blood pressure, mental disorders (depression, mania), liver problems, personal or family history of substance use disorder.
Although Nuvigil helps you stay awake, because of sleep disorders, even with the drug, you may not be safe if you need to do things that require quick reflexes (such as driving). Medicines can also make you dizzy, especially when using alcohol and stimulants. Therefore, you should not drive or do other things until you are alert enough to do them safely. At the same time, you should avoid drinking alcohol and other stimulants.
Before taking Nuvigil, you need to tell your doctor about the medicines you are using. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you need to tell your doctor because Nuvigil is not recommended for use during pregnancy (may harm the unborn baby). During and after taking the pill, you need to avoid pregnancy. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of the drug. There is no evidence that Nuvigi l passes into breast milk. Therefore, users should consult a doctor if they are breast-feeding.

Patients should keep a list of all medications they are taking and share it with their doctor. You should not start, stop, or change the dose of any medications you are taking without your doctor's approval.

Some drug interactions of Nuvigil:
Ecstasy can interact with Nuvigil; Nuvigil may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patch, IUD). Thus, users of the drug can still become pregnant despite using the above methods of contraception. Therefore, patients should consult their doctor to choose a reliable method of birth control during and after 1 month of using Nuvigil. In addition, you should tell your doctor if you experience bleeding or sudden bleeding as this is a sign that your current birth control method is not working well; Some medications can increase heart rate or blood pressure. Therefore, you should ask your doctor about how to use such medicines safely, especially cough and cold medicines,...; Caffeine can increase the side effects of Nuvigil. Therefore, during the use of the drug, you should avoid drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee), avoid eating large amounts of chocolate or caffeine-containing products; Armodafinil is very similar to Modafinil, so do not take Modafinil-containing medicines while using Armodafinil.

If the person taking the drug experiences overdose symptoms such as fast or irregular heartbeat, restlessness, hallucinations, fainting or difficulty breathing, the patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately;
Do not share Nuvigil with other people; In the course of taking the drug, the patient needs to perform tests, check on blood pressure, heart rate, ... to monitor health and check for side effects; Building a scientific sleep routine (sleeping in low light, quiet bedroom, avoiding caffeine consumption before bed) can help improve your sleep; If you miss a dose of Nuvigil, you can take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the prescribed time. Do not take a double dose and do not take the missed dose near bedtime as it can make it difficult to fall asleep; Store Nuvigil at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store medicine in the bathroom, out of reach of small children and pets; When the medicine has expired or is no longer needed, you should dispose of it according to the instructions. Using Nuvigil in combination with a scientific lifestyle and rest will help you not to have sleep disorders and have a better health.
Above is important information about Nuvigil drug, patients need to pay attention and carefully consult with doctors and pharmacists before taking the drug to promote the best effect in treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical care address with a team of doctors and pharmacists with many years of experience and good expertise. When there are any health problems, customers can contact the hospital to be examined and have the best indications for medication and treatment.

Reference source: webmd.com