Armodafinil

Cephalon | Armodafinil (Medication)


Desc:

Armodafinil is a medication that promotes wakefulness. It is similar to modafinil (Provigil). Like amphetamines, armodafinil promotes wakefulness by stimuatIng the brain. However, the exact mechanism of action of armodafinil is unknown.

Armodafinil may work by increasing the amount of dopamine (a chemical neurotransmitter that nerves use to communicate with each other) in the brain by reducing the reuptake of dopamine into nerves. Armodafinil is used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift work sleep disorder. ...

Side Effect:

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using armodafinil and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:fever, sore throat, headache, and vomiting with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; the first sign of any type of skin rash, no matter how mild; bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; easy bruising or bleeding; mouth sores, trouble swallowing; upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); depression, confusion, hallucinations, aggression, unusual thoughts or behavior; chest pain, uneven heart beats.

Less serious side effects may include:headache, dizziness; feeling nervous or anxious; nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach; trouble sleeping (insomnia); or dry mouth. ...

Precaution:

Inform your healthcare provider if you are allergic to armodafinil, modafinil (Provigil) or any other medications. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.

Speak with your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs or have overused prescription medications. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, or other heart problems after taking a stimulant, and if you have or have ever had a heart attack; chest pain; high blood pressure; a mental illness such as depression, mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or psychosis (difficulty thinking clearly, communicating, understanding reality, and behaving appropriately); or heart, liver,or kidney disease.

Armodafinil may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Use another form of birth control while you are taking armodafinil and for 1 month after you stop taking it. Talk to your doctor about types of birth control that will work for you during and after your treatment with armodafinil. It is not recommended to use this drug during pregnancy or breastfeeding without your doctor's advice.

If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking armodafinil.

Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Also, avoid alcohol intake. ...