Provigil is a brand-name prescription medication that was developed by the drug company Cephalon. The active ingredient in Provigil is modafinil, which was approved in tablet form by the FDA to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy,...
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter and found naturally in the body. It is a chemical that works in the brain to transmit nerve impulses. GABA is used by some as a nutritional supplement for assorted alleged benefits. Side effects...
Progesterone is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body. According to the American Pregnancy Association, during the earlier stages of pregnancy, days 12 to 16 of the cycle, it is released by the part of the egg follicle known as the...
Vitamin D3 is one form of vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin involved in several important biological processes in the body, including building and maintaining healthy bones. Foods and health supplements may contain either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3,...
Yawning is a normal human behavior. You open your mouth, stretch your arms, and take a deep breath into your lungs to signify you are tired or sleepy. It might even be a mimicked reaction: You see someone else yawn, then you suddenly do it too....
Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Vitamin D ensures that your bones stay strong and facilitates cell growth. Failing to get enough vitamin D can cause numerous medical problems that can seriously impact your...
Valerian is an herb whose root is commonly used as a remedy or medication. Valerian root, unlike some drugs, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly interact with the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. By affecting the brain,...
Lyrica is a prescription medication used for the treatment of pain associated with fibromyalgia, a condition of chronic, wide-spread pain in the joints, muscles and soft tissues of the body. It is also used as a treatment for pain associated with...
Provigil, a prescription-strength medication, improves wakefulness and treats symptoms like excessive sleepiness (ES). Causes for ES include obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. The drug...
Snoring affects 7 to 12 percent of toddlers, and those who don't routinely snore will experience the sleep disturbance at some point. However, you may not know when your child's snoring is a situational result of allergens or a symptom of an...
Hypersomnia, or excessive sleeping or sleepiness, is typically caused by a lack of proper sleep during the night. Whether you suffer from sleep apnea or insomnia, not getting a full night's sleep will cause you to be drowsy during the day. Dealing...
Excessive sleepiness has many potential causes, according to the National Library of Medicine. Medical conditions, medication side effects, and psychological states like boredom, depression, stress and anxiety can lead to excessive sleepiness, but...
Phenergan, a brand of the drug, promethazine is an antihistamine used to treat several conditions such as nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, allergic reactions, allergy symptoms and itchy skin rashes. It is also used to sedate patients before...
The most frequently used mood altering drug in the world is caffeine, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Most people in the United States get their caffeine in coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks, but caffeine tablets are also marketed...
Turmeric is a shrub found in Asia, India and Africa, where it is used as a fabric dye and as a flavor enhancer for cheeses, curries and mustards. Also called Indian saffron, dried tumeric root is commonly used for medicinal purposes. It is said to...
Psychosis refers to an impairment in an individual's ability to perceive and interact with his environment. Some examples of psychotic features include hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren't there) and delusions (believing...
Requip is the brand name of a medication known as ropinirole that is made by the drug company, GlaxoSmithKline. It is used to help treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome. Requip works to increase the neurotransmitter...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "Sleep is as essential for your well-being as food and water." You probably remember staying awake all night studying for a big exam, or getting up in the middle of the...
Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone that regulates the body's internal clock, is also used to treat sleep disorders and a number of other health issues. Synthetic melatonin supplements can help adjust sleep cycles in autistic, mentally...
Motion sickness, that feeling of being overcome by nausea and vomiting during a ride in a vehicle, can develop quickly or progressively over time in almost anyone who takes trips by car, boat or plane. Marketed products like Dramamine offer relief...
Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles. Some men have an abnormally low testosterone level as a result of hypogonadism, a condition in which the testicles produce too little hormone, or due to a natural age-related decline....
The Neuroscience For Kids website reports that there are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain that process messages from the trillions of cells in the human body. Disorders of the nervous system can occur in the brain, spinal column or at...
Skullcap is also known as Scutellaria lateriflora and belongs to the mint family. This herb is a perennial plant that is native to the United States and can grow up to three feet tall. Skullcap grows readily in the moist woodlands of North America...
GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is an amino acid that calms nervousness in the central nervous system. In the brain, GABA deficiency is believed to cause rapid firing of nerve cells leading to increases in agitation, anxiety, panic attacks,...
Fatigue and sleepiness are two common health complaints that may be temporary or long-term. One of the leading causes of excessive fatigue or sleepiness, notes the National Sleep Foundation, is sleep deprivation associated with societal or...
People use lavender oil to help them relax or fall asleep. It may also help to treat alopecia areata, depression, dementia, headaches, acne, joint pain and pain after surgery. However, there are some possible bad side effects associated with...
Low blood sugar can cause behavior signs that can mimic stroke, seizure or other neurological disorders. Another name for low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. Individuals with diabetes are especially prone to the development of low blood sugar, but...
Guaifenex (guaifenesin) is an over-the-counter expectorant medication indicated to alleviate symptoms associated with respiratory congestion and cough caused by the common cold or other infections. This medication works by thinning the sticky...
Topamax is an anticonvulsant that is used to treat seizures in patients with epilepsy, as well as treat migraine headaches and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by cycles of manic and depressive episodes...
