Modafinil 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).
Modafinil may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Modafinil 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. Swallow it whole, do not chew or crush the tablet.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, 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.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- uncontrolled moderate to severe high blood pressure
- irregular or abnormal heartbeat
as Modafinil may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while on Modafinil therapy, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. You must use proven birth control methods during Modafinil therapy and for at least 2 months after stopping the treatment. Birth control medicines containing hormones may not be effective. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- mental illness or mood disorder
- heart disease
- liver disease
- kidney 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.
Notify your doctor if you consume large amounts of alcohol, if you are a frequent drinker, or if you have problems related to alcohol withdrawal.
It is important for you to have enough sleep and rest even while being treated with Modafinil. This medicine cannot replace adequate sleep and rest.
Modafinil may cause dizziness or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nervousness, nausea, stomach pain, indigestion, dry mouth, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, constipation, back pain, and stuffy nose.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
- breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- anxiety, hallucinations, depression, aggressive or hostile behaviour or having thoughts of self-harm
- chest pain, palpitations
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:
- medicines to treat fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- rifampicin (medicine to treat an infection known as tuberculosis)
- diazepam (medicine for anxiety)
- omeprazole (gastric medicine)
- propranolol (medicine for high blood pressure and heart disease)
Modafinil 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 Modafinil.
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Modafinil.
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.
Avoid taking too much caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee, tea and certain soft drinks. Caffeine may prevent you from having a good night's sleep.
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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