Armodafinil is used to treat excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy (long-term sleep disorder that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep) or obstructive sleep apnoea (a serious sleep disorder which causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep).
This medicine may also be used to treat shift-work sleep disorder (a condition in which shift workers suffer sleeping problems due to irregular working hours).
Take Armodafinil exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost bedtime, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Armodafinil if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar medicine such as modafinil.
Do not take Armodafinil if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. Armodafinil may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking this medicine.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- history of mental illness or mood problems e.g. depression, mania (feeling highly excited, being over-active and easily irritated or distracted)
- history of drug abuse
- heart disease e.g. history of heart attack or chest pain, abnormally thick heart muscle
- Tourette's syndrome or known as "tics" (a condition characterised by uncontrolled speech and body movements)
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving this medicine to the elderly. Elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
You need to have enough sleep and rest even while being treated with Armodafinil. This medicine cannot replace adequate sleep and rest.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to take.
- Your blood pressure and heart rate may rise to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure and heart rate during treatment.
- Regular monitoring of signs of allergic reactions, depression and degree of sleepiness may also be needed.
Armodafinil may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly or react quickly. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: diarrhoea, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, constipation, tiredness, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet, sore throat and runny nose, difficulty sleeping, and frequent urination.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
- fever, shortness of breath, dark urine, swelling of the legs, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
- unusual changes in mood or behaviour (being too depressed, agitated, or having thoughts of self-harm)
- chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders)
- quetiapine (medicine for mood disorders)
- medicines for sleep disorders e.g. midazolam, triazolam
- diazepam (medicine for anxiety)
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital
- medicines to treat TB, an infection known as tuberculosis e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir
- certain antibiotics e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, chloramphenicol
- medicines to treat fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole
- medicines for high blood pressure or heart disease e.g. propranolol, verapamil, diltiazem
- medicines to treat depression e.g. clomipramine, nefazodone
- omeprazole (gastric medicine)
- St. John's wort (herbal medicine)
Armodafinil can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. You should not stop or start any birth control pills without first informing your doctor. Ask your doctor about using non-hormonal birth control as an alternative while being treated with Armodafinil.
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Armodafinil.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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