Nuvigil (armodafinil)
An Alternative Medication for ADD and ADHD
My Personal Experience using NuvigilWhen Nuvigil first entered the market in 2007 I tried some of the samples that pharmaceutical reps brought to my office. I found it an effective and well tolerated option for managing my ADHD symptoms. I considered using it as an alternative to Adderall but at the time the name brand product was simply too expensive. Now 7 years after Cephalon's patent expired it's available as an affordable generic medication. Patients who don't have health insurance, or for other reasons choose to pay out of pocket, can use a discount coupon from GoodRx for armodafinil.
Pharmacokinetics- How to Take ItNuvigil is readily absorbed after oral administration, when taken on an empty stomach it reaches peak plasma concentration within 2 hours. Taking Nuvigil with food can delay absorption by 2-4 hours. After reaching a therapeutic dose in the bloodstream Nuvigil is typically effective for 15 hours. Nuvigil is a LONG ACTING medication it should NOT be taken too late in the day or it will interfere with sleep, causing insomnia. Nuvigil does NOT have to be taken every day, it can be taken "as needed" as long as it is taken early enough in the day. Nuvigil is NOT a good choice for patients who only want a stimulant effect for a few hours out of the day.
Nuvigil tablets are available in the following strengths: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, and 250 mg. The starting dose will be determined by the physician based on a patient's previous dose of stimulant medication. The maximum daily dose that can be safely used is 400 mg daily, typically this will all be taken early in the day. Twice daily dosing is not recommended for most patients due to the long duration of action of Nuvigil. Patients should follow their physicians instructions when titrating the dose of this medication. |
Armodafinil (trade name Nuvigil) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2007 to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work disorder. It is commonly used "off-label" to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and major depressive disorder, and has been repurposed as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar disorder.
In 2016, the FDA granted Mylan rights for the first generic version of Cephalon's Nuvigil to be marketed in the U.S. Is Nuvigil the same as Adderall?Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is similar to Adderall in that they can both improve wakefulness and alertness. However, they work differently in the brain and affect different chemicals. They are also classified as controlled medications differently. Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a Schedule 4 medication while Adderall is a Schedule 2. This means the FDA believes that Adderall has a higher risk for abuse and addiction than armodafinil (Nuvigil).
One benefit of taking a Schedule 4 medication is that physicians can authorize 5 additional refills when submitting the prescription to the pharmacy. This is more convenient for patients because they will not have to contact our office every month to request another prescription, they can use their pharmacy app, or other automated systems, to activate their next approved refill. A physician can authorize enough refills of a Schedule 4 medication to last a patient for 6 months, this is NOT an option for Schedule 2 medications like Adderall, Ritalin or Vyvanse. Patients also have the option of obtaining a 90 day supply of medication from their pharmacy at one time (with physician approval) which reduces the need to request a refill every month from the pharmacy. Patients can see how many refills they have remaining on their medication by checking the information on their most recently filled prescription bottle, remaining refills and the expiration of the refills will be listed on the bottle. Refills will expire 180 days from the date of the original prescription, so any refills that were not utilized by the patient cannot be used after the refill expiration date listed on bottom of the label on their prescription bottle. |
Beginner's Guide to Nuvigil Use for ADHD Management
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How Well Does Nuvigil Work?
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On GoodRx.com Nuvigil received a higher rating than Adderall by users. 82% of users approved Nuvigil whereas 74% approved Adderall. Click the link below to read more...
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For patients who desire an extended release medication here is a comparison of Nuvigil to Vyvanse by the pharmaceutical experts from GoodRx.com
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Click below for a detailed discussion and comparison of Nuvigil and Adderall from the medical experts from Singlecare.com
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