According to Drugs.com, Provigil is a brand name wakefulness-promoting medication that the Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating people with certain sleep disorders. These conditions include narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder and can increase a person's risk of automobile or job-related accidents. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, Provigil is thought to work by altering the way the brain's natural chemicals interact. Its active ingredient is modafinil, a compound comprised of 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide. FDA approved the treatment in 100 mg and 200 mg tablets in 1998.
Narcolepsy
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder triggered by the brain's inability to normally regulate the sleep-wake cycle. People with the disorder are plagued by excessive sleepiness and prone to sudden daytime sleep attacks, which can occur at anytime and anywhere, making it difficult to maintain normal daily routines. In addition, narcoleptics can also experience sudden loss of voluntary muscle movement, hallucinations and brief episodes of total paralysis just before dropping off to sleep or upon waking. According to Drug.com, a 200 mg dose of Provigil taken in the morning is an effective treatment of narcolepsy.
Sleep Apnea
In obstructive sleep apnea, a person's upper airway is intermittently blocked during sleep, causing him to momentarily stop breathing. This leads to restless sleep, feeling sluggish in the morning, daytime sleepiness and other problems. If not treated, the condition also can increase the risk of heart failure and stroke. The standard treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, administered by a device that releases a steady flow of air into the patient's lungs while she sleeps. According to FDA, Provigil should not be used alone to treat sleep apnea, but in combination with CPAP if the device alone is not effective.
Shift Work Sleepiness
According to the Cleveland Clinic, shift work sleep disorder affects people whose jobs involve frequent rotations and night work by interrupting the body's natural Circardian rhythms. Symptoms include trouble sleeping at night and excessive daytime sleepiness. People experiencing shift work sleep disorder should take a dose of Provigil 1 hour before their work shift begins.
