Provigil

Medically Reviewed by Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 17, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Provigil (modafinil)?

Provigil can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the serious risks of Provigil use include:

Allergic Reaction: Rarely, Provigil can cause a serious allergic reaction with difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, tongue, lips, hands, or feet; rash; yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes; and weakness. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs and symptoms.
Skin Reaction: Provigil can cause a skin reaction with symptoms such as itching, peeling of the skin, rash, sores, and blisters. If such a reaction occurs, stop taking the medication and seek medical attention right away.
Difficulty concentrating: Provigil affects the areas of the brain involved with sleep and wakefulness. While this medication typically improves attention and wakefulness, people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder may still be sleepy even while treated with modafinil. The risk of sleepiness is higher when you take Provigil with alcohol or other medications that can cause drowsiness. Be careful and avoid activities that require focus and attention, such as driving, until you know how modafinil affects you.
Heart Problems: At high doses, Provigil can cause irregular or pounding heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Therefore, this medication may not be appropriate for people with a history of heart disease. Your healthcare provider may recommend monitoring your blood pressure and heart rate during treatment.
Mental Health Problems: Potential side effects of Provigil include hallucinations, mania, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking. Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative treatment options if you have a history of mental health problems. Also, be watchful for signs and symptoms of worsening mental health symptoms while on Provigil.

Your health care provider or pharmacist can help you find a substitute treatment for excessive sleepiness if you are at high risk of complications from modafinil use.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Provigil (modafinil)?

Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to modafinil (Provigil), armodafinil (Nuvigil), or any ingredients in these medications. Your pharmacy can provide you with a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious drug interactions.

Provigil may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions. Tell your health care professional about all your medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, chest pain, depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis, liver disease, or kidney disease.

Inform your doctor if you drink alcohol, use street drugs or recreational drugs, or have ever abused prescription drugs, especially stimulants.

Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant in the near future.

What precautions should I take while on Provigil (modafinil)?

Keep all appointments with your health care providers. Your doctor might want to monitor you for side effects while on Provigil.

You should know that Provigil can decrease the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptive pills, rings, intrauterine devices, implants, injections, and patches. You will need to use some other method of birth control while on modafinil and for one month after discontinuing treatment with this medication.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on Provigil. Mixing modafinil and alcohol can cause serious interactions and side effects.

If you become pregnant while on Provigil, inform your doctor without delay.

If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are on modafinil.

While Provigil can improve excessive sleepiness, the medication may not completely relieve your symptoms. Avoid driving or doing anything that requires focus and attention until you know how modafinil affects you.

Call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you experience symptoms such as skin reaction, rash, peeling skin, blisters, sores, hives, itching, mouth sores, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, tongue, mouth, lips, hands, or feet, irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, hallucinations, psychosis, or thoughts about harming yourself.

What are Provigil (modafinil) interactions?

Taking Provigil with some other medications can affect how well either medicine works. Drug interactions can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your physician may choose a different wakefulness-promoting medication for you, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between Provigil and your other medications. There can be interactions between modafinil and medicines, such as:

blood thinners
certain antidepressants
some antifungals
diazepam (Valium)
certain medications used to treat seizures

This list does not describe all possible Provigil interactions. Give your health care provider a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with modafinil.

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