Provigil (generic name: modafinil) is a medication used to treat sleep apnea (when breathing stops temporarily while sleeping), narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder. According to MedlinePlus, Provigil belongs to a category of medicines called wakefulness promoting agents. You will typically take 200 milligrams of Provigil daily or as your doctor prescribes.
Routine Side Effects
In a placebo-controlled clinical trial of 934 patients receiving Provigil, the National Library of Medicine says that 34 percent of patients had a headache, 11 percent developed nausea, 6 percent had back pain, 4 percent developed the flu and 1 percent had chills. Furthermore, 6 percent had diarrhea, 5 percent had indigestion, 4 percent had dry mouth and 2 percent suffered from depression. Other routine side effects include gas (1 percent), nervousness (7 percent) and trouble sleeping (5 percent). Visit your doctor regularly so she can monitor you for these side effects.
Serious Side Effects
MedlinePlus warns that Provigil can cause blisters, rashes, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing, itching and chest pain. It can also cause tachycardia (fast heartbeat), palpitations (a pounding heartbeat) or an arrythmia (irregular and uneven heartbeats). Other serious side effects include anxiety, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, abnormal excitement and swelling of your eyes, hands, feet and lower legs. Get medical attention right away, especially if you have a skin rash, in order to prevent any life threatening effects.
Additional Side Effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, Provigil can cause eye pain, visual problems, bloody urine, agitation, tremors, and numbness or tingling. It can also cause a potentially life threatening rash called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in which your body may be covered with red rashes and subsequently, peel. Drugs.com also says that Provigil can cause white patches to form in your mouth or throat.
Other Concerns
You should not take Provigil if you are hypersensitive to its components. You can develop trouble breathing, hives or swelling of your throat, face or tongue.
Drugs.com recommends that you tell your doctor whether you have a history of angina (chest pain), kidney or liver problems, or have a history of a heart attack. Your doctor may have to change your dose to make Provigil safe to take.
Tell your doctor whether you are taking cyclosporine, rifampin, propanol, itraconazole or carbamazepine.These medications may interact with Provigil and cause the aforementioned side effects.
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