Modalert 200 mg is used to treat narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. It is usually taken once daily in the morning. It is not recommended for use in children. It may be abused and can cause addiction. Keep it away from children and others. Selling or giving it to anyone is against the law.
What is Modafinil?
Modafinil is a non-amphetamine central nervous system stimulant with wakefulness promoting properties. It is used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with conditions such as narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. It is not a cure for these conditions and should be used along with other medical and lifestyle treatments. Modafinil is well-tolerated and has a low risk for abuse and dependence. However, it should be used cautiously in patients with structural cardiac disease or severe hepatic impairment and in those who have a history of psychosis/mania.
It is commonly used off-label as a “smart drug” to improve cognitive function and performance in those who are sleep-deprived, such as in exam preparation or other academic pursuits. Some studies suggest that it can significantly enhance cognitive functions in these individuals, particularly short-term memory and logical reasoning. However, it is also reported to cause significant jitteriness, headaches and insomnia in some individuals.
Tell your doctor or health care professional about all the medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes prescription and nonprescription medicines, as well as dietary supplements and herbal products. For example, modafinil may interact with rifampin, phenytoin, St. John’s wort, clarithromycin, efavirenz, and other drugs that affect CYP3A4. It also may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control (pills, injections, gels, rings, vaginal rings, or implants) and other types of birth control. Use another form of birth control while you take this medicine and for 1 month after you stop it.
How does Modafinil work?
Modalert 200 mg Tablet works by affecting the part of the brain that controls sleep and wakefulness. It increases the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain that are needed to be awake. This medicine is used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or shift work sleep disorder (sleepiness during scheduled waking hours in people who work night or rotating shifts). It is also used along with other treatments for sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS; a group of breathing problems that can cause tiredness). This medicine is in a class of medications called wakefulness promoting agents.
Modafinil has a low liability for abuse, presumably due to its relatively innocuous neurochemical actions and its unique physical properties. In clinical trials, it has shown efficacy across a range of neuropsychiatric illnesses with good tolerability and minimal side effects. Its primary effects appear to be in the frontal cortex, where it remediates cognitive dysfunction and associated neural activity.
This medicine may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, rings, gels, or injections). Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control while taking this medication and for 1 month after stopping it. This drug should not be taken by teenagers. It can cause severe allergic reactions that can affect several body organs.
Dosage
Modafinil 200 mg increases mental alertness in a dose-dependent manner and improves performance during short duration total sleep deprivation. However, it does not restore the normal sleep cycle or reduce the propensity to nap. It also does not prevent obstructive sleep apnea when used alone. Patients should continue to follow other sleep apnea treatments, such as use of a CPAP machine to help keep the airway open during sleep, and should try to get enough sleep every night.
Some people who take this medicine may feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Modafinil can cause a severe skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). If you have this reaction, stop taking modafinil and seek emergency medical help right away.
This medicine is not recommended for use in people with a history of psychiatric disorders or drug abuse. It can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in these patients. This medicine can interact with certain medicines, including antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. It can also decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills. Use a different form of birth control while taking this medicine and for one month after stopping it.
This medicine contains lactose. If you have a rare hereditary problem of galactose intolerance, or glucose-galactose malabsorption, talk to your doctor before taking this medication.
Side effects
Modalert 200 mg Tablet is a CNS stimulant that promotes wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness. This medication may cause chest pain, especially if you have a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse or left ventricular hypertrophy (thick walls on the left side of your heart). If this happens, stop taking Modalert and get emergency help right away. Modalert 200 mg Tablet can interact with other medicines that affect your blood pressure. For example, it can make your birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using an alternative form of birth control while you take this medicine.
Modafinil can cause serious, possibly life-threatening side effects if you take too much of it. Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, aggression, psychotic pathologies, or cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia and bradycardia. Treatment for a modafinil overdose usually involves hospitalization and monitoring of vital signs until the symptoms have resolved.
Modalert 200 mg Tablet should not be used in children younger than 18 years old. It is not approved for use by children to treat narcolepsy or other conditions associated with sleepiness. You should not drive or operate machinery after taking this medicine. Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. You should not take this medicine if you have a history of depression, mania, or psychotic disorders.
