NUVIGIL Reviews (ARMODAFINIL)

Average Rating: 3.3 (197 Ratings)

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 Type: Rx Drug

  

NUVIGIL  (ARMODAFINIL):  Armodafinil reduces extreme sleepiness due to narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, such as periods of stopped breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea). It is also used to help you stay awake during work hours if you have a work schedule that keeps you from having a normal sleep routine (shift work sleep disorder). This medication does not cure these sleep disorders and may not get rid of all your sleepiness. Armodafinil does not take the place of getting enough sleep. It should not be used to treat tiredness or hold off sleep in people who do not have a sleep disorder. It is not known how armodafinil works to keep you awake. It is thought to work by affecting certain substances in the brain that control the sleep/wake cycle.   FDA Approval Date: 2007-06-15 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

Results are sorted by Age from youngest to oldest (reviews with no age reported listed first).

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR NUVIGILCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 4  narcolepsy w/o cataplexy sores in mouth and on tongue (use the biotene dry mouth rinse, it helps), loss of appetite, nervousness. The first day I took it, it kept me up for 32 hours, and I'm a narcoleptic! the crazy trouble sleeping worked itself out in a couple days, and now this medicine really did change my life for the better. I hope your insurance covers it because without coverage it's $650 a month. Yikes F 17 1 weeks
250 mg
10/25/2014
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 5  Idiopathic Hypersomnia Headaches I did go through muscle cramps, dizziness and dry mouth for the first week. After that my body got use to the medicine and the side effects went away except for occasional headaches. This is a life saver for me. After being in 2 wrecks for falling asleep at the wheel, I'm no longer scared to drive for longer than 30 min. 9-10 time I would fall asleep while driving. I am more alert and actually pay attention better. Over all I feel so much better on NuVigil. For those questioning the medicine and have just started taking it, give it a week or two and let it work through your system. All my side effects went away after except for occasional headaches. F 19 3 months
250MG
1/14/2015
 3  Narcolepsy Unfocused, periods of zoning off (several times a day) I've noticed everyone on here has many years on me but being diagnosed with narcolepsy at 19 hasnt been very easy. Especially when no one understands what it's like. It's truely a relief to know I'm not crazy or a freak of nature because other people do have and live with narcolepsy also. I've been through 4 different medications over the last year. Each time hoping "this is the one!". First Methlyn ER (Ritalin),2nd Dexadrine 15mg CR, then dexadrine 10mg tabs, and for a while the Dr. had me on a cocktail taking both forms of dexadrine. I have been taking Nuvigil for 5 days now and I feel good, yesterday I woke up extremely agitated with everything and very anxious. I do wake up much easier and earlier than my normal 2:30pm regiment. The only way I can explain how the nuvigil affects me is saying it makes my body feel awake but not my mind. My brain seems very foggy and not so concentrated. I'll be seeing my Dr. today for a follow up. I still have my training wheels on when it comes to being narco, if anyone has any advice that could help me living with this I would greatly appreciate it. F 19 5 days
250mg 1X day
12/6/2010
Email
 5  Shift Work Disorder Can cause Dry Lips , and anxiety Shit works good My Job schedule is 7pm to 4am and I have to take it 1 hour before work. No problems besides the one I describe but however this drug is not miracle it only allows me to function at times I wouldn't. You do feel the sleep deprivation effects creep slowly so I'll say the medication probably slows down the effects quite a bit but I can see someone like a banker prob taking it more then I do since majority of my work is physical instead of mental. M 20 3 months
1X day
9/7/2014
Email
 4  Narcolepsy with Cataplexy Mild headaches and a cloudy mind after 12 hours. A tiny bit of dizziness but went away after a week. Memory Loss. Weight loss. I got diagnosed with narcolepsy a month ago, my doctor placed my on Nuvigil (I have never been on a prescription medicine and have never taken any form of birth control). Every day I have been awake the entire day without needing a nap (unless I thought it was a great idea to get less than 6 hours of sleep, then I would be tired during the day but still awake.) At night the first week or two I still woke up constantly but after that I have been so exhausted when I go to bed I cant even remember if I wake up or not, and I cant remember my dreams like I normally can. A really nice effect of Nuvigil (at least for a young person like me) is that Nuvigil removed my hunger almost. I still make sure to eat three meals a day but I don't have hunger cravings all day and if I do get hungry my stomach complains but it doesn't hurt like it normally does. The bad thing I want to complain about is the memory loss. Its really important for a student like me (studying for a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering) to be able to study and memorize things. I pay attention in class, take good notes, and study like i always have but even in my easy classes I failed every exam. I could tell you things the day I studied them but the next day I would go back to study and not remember a thing or how to do it. When I needed to study in the evening I would get headaches and like fog or fluff would cloud my mind. F 20 30 days
150 1X day
3/4/2012
Email
 3  Excessive daytime sleepiness,ADHD Muscle tension, loss of appetite, hyperfocus, migraines, sleepiness, dullness in personality. When I first started taking Nuvigil 2hrs after daily dose I experience drowsiness and feelings of laziness. Throughout the day I can focus but only if I fight the drowsiness. The headaches usually occurs in the nighttime with fever like symptoms. M 20 2 weeks
150mg
10/22/2015
Email
 2  ADHD: Inattention Type Fatigue, Headache, Sudden Depression, Loss of Appetite I'm not so sure about this medication. It definitely did not work for me to help me pay attention. It just made me feel kinda crappy. F 20 3 days
25 MG 1X day
7/2/2014
Email
 1  Narcolepsy For the first day or two it went great i was awake than went to sleep at night; without passing out numerous times randomly during the day. Than this medcine started making me more depressed and it was as if i lost my memory. I ended up having to have a friend come take care of me. I was writing everything down trying not to forget what i did with stuff.It was the biggest mess i've been in. I've never been so depressed, i went to the hospital because i felt so crazy and off and the docters kept telling me that this drug has no side effect of memory loss. After talking to other people and reading results. It does. I also without some kidof medicationg to bring me off of the Nuvigil, i ended up staying awake more than i was sleeping. I quit taking it obv. now my memory is beack and after the medicine was fully out of my system i wasnt depressed. F 20 2 weeks
1X day
9/7/2011
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 5  idiosynractic hypersomnia At first mild headaches, insomnia, jitters, dizziness, dry eyes/mouth. Now only loss of appetite and occasional mental foggy-ness. F 21 4 weeks
150mg
5/16/2012
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 4  Narcolepsy, Excessive daytime sleep Bad headache, severe stomach pain, irritability, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, extreme tiredness when wear off, nausea I used to asleep driving, but still somehow make it home. Also while standing & working, I did things I wasn't aware I was doing(sleep walking). At first half a pill was helping, then as the days go on I became more tolerate, but would still only take other half when I feel it wearing off. I'm very irritable w my spouse, have depression, & for the headaches if I take 1 extra strength excedrin w the nuvigil, it's ok. While at work it i let it all wear off before taking the other half, the sleep walking is 10 times worst than before. My stomach pain is almost unbearable, & hurts to the touch (not sure cause exactly). really helps tho. F 21 4 weeks
250
1/3/2016
Email
 4  Narcolepsy I was taking 150mg which was working, but not fully. I was feeling more awake for a few hours but I’m the afternoon was exhausted again. Between 1-4 I felt like I needed to take a nap or I would just pass out. Although I had no side effects. I started 250 and it worked so much better! I was awake all day and even got some of my evening back. Although I was slight tired (which will never go away because of my condition) I still was much more productive. About 3-4 days into taking it I started to get extremely nauseous around 2 hours after I took it. The nausea could last anywhere from 30min to 3 hours. I’m hoping for a solution so I don’t need to switch medications which is one works so well for me. F 21 3 months
250
12/16/2019
 3  Excessive daytime sleepiness Jaw clenching, trouble sleeping at night because I felt very wired, heart palpitations, baseline level of relatively high anxiety I am still trying to figure out if this is the right medication/dose for me. It is great to not be sleeping 10+ hours a night and then needing 1-2 naps of 2-3 hours as well. However, the heart palpitations are really bothering me and make me feel like I'm on the verge of a panic attack. I also can't fall asleep at night and though I have seen that it helps other people focus, it has done nothing for my attention span. F 21 5 days
150mg 1X day
2/9/2011
Email
 2  Narcolepsy Initial headaches and jaw clenching/pain. One day developed chest pain that came-and-went for hours, getting worse, and radiating up in to my neck and jaw. Had to stop taking it because of the chest pain. 250 MG worked nicely otherwise, and didn't have the ups and downs Ritalin gave me. Tried 150 MG after the heart issue, but that didn't really do much to keep me awake. F 21 7 days
250 MG 1X day
5/31/2011
 5  Narcolepsy & Idiopathic Hypersomnia headaches, loss of appetite, short bouts of nausea, some anxiety and increased irritability I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 19. After many years of taking naps after sleeping 12+ hours and falling asleep during meetings, classes, or driving, I had a sleep study and was diagnosed with Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia. I hate meds (I only take IB Profen for the fibro), so I was leery of the Nuvigil. The first day on Nuvigil I felt like I had never felt before: My mind felt awake for the first time in what seems like forever. I had no jitters, extreme energy, or shakes. I did not feel any more energetic, instead I just felt clearer and more focused. I did not want to nap throughout the day, and I have little problems falling asleep at night. The few side effects are headaches (some mild, some sharp "ice pick" headaches. I've had severe migraines for years so they do not bother me much), loss of appetite (I have to remind myself to eat. Usually the headaches are relieved by eating), and short bouts of nausea throughout the day (I have severe IBS and my stomach is very sensitive. Also dairy products make me nauseous and I've read this drug contains lactose). Some anxiety and irritability as well, especially during stressful situations at work. After day 4, still the same. Overall this drugs benefits outweigh the side effects for me. I feel my age for the first time ever! My worries are developing a dependency and the fact that it interferes with any hormonal BC. Neither doctor or pharmacist told me this, so I'm glad I read up on the drug before I began it! F 22 4 days
150 MG 1X day
7/23/2011
Email
 5  Idiopathic Hypersomnia I have a very high heart rate. I think its from the medication. I started with 175mg and it worked great but the insurance would not insure it. I had to try Adderall, then Provigil, then the generic of Provigil, each time the insurance wouldn't insure it even though they recommended some of them. Finally yesterday they insured it, but by then I had taken so many different medication the 175mg didn't work anymore and they had to up it. I feel like my heart is beating 100 miles an hour and my arms are shaky. But I'm finally able to be alert and enjoy life a little better. Getting up in the morning is still very hard, but once the medication kicks it is great. This medication has changed my life. HOW CAN I MAKE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOTBEING LAZY?????? F 22 2 days
250 1X day
10/18/2014
Email
 4  Idiopathic Hypersomnia Both times I started this medication, I found myself unable to sleep normally for about three days. On the first night, I just don't sleep. On the second night, it's difficult, and on the third night, it's just broken sleep. This does however go away. The second time I started these meds however, I got terrible headaches, and aches in the muscles of my neck. Mild upper stomach irritation was also present intermittently. NuVigil make life seem like less of a torture. The side effects are minimal, and seem to fade over time as you get used to the drug. I had to stop taking it for a few months when I swapped insurance, as the new one didn't cover it initially. Being on it, having to go without, and getting back on it proves it's like night and day. I'm awake through most of the day (petering out around 9 PM), and it feels like a natural awake. Unfortunately it doesn't help me get out of bed in the morning, but once I do and I take it, I feel great. I have one of the worst cases of Idiopathic Hypersomnia my doctor's seen. (Average Sleep Latency of 13 seconds.) I'm frankly impressed anything works, even though I am taking the maximum dose for my size. F 22 1 years
250 mg 1X day
5/25/2014
 1  Shiftwork Sleep Disorder numbness(Right Leg) for 24hrs,Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Heart Palpatations, Panic attacks, Headaches, loose stools, shortness of breath, dry mouth,no appetite, extreme fatigue The first day I took the med it worked great. The second day the numbness started in my leg 2hrs after i took the second dose. The palpatations started about 10pm didnt sleep all night slept 2hrs the next day. that evening the palpatations got worse. My Heart started racing felt like i was going to pass out, Extreme chest pain, fingers and lips were tingling had to go to the ER. Dr said med sped my system up... weeks later im still dealing with the depression and anxiety. Never felt any of the emotions until i took this drug F 22 2 days
150mg 1X day
2/7/2011
 5  Idiopathic Hypersomnia Occasional increased heart rate, occasional insomnia, jitters (*Note: My doctor has me only on half of a 150 mg pill a day, and I take the weekends off, so as to avoid developing dependence.) The side effects, for me, were few and far between--not to mention well worth it. This medicine has allowed me to be able to get my life back on track. I've gone from sleeping over 16 hours in a day to sleeping a normal 9 hours at night, with no necessary nap time, and an ability to concentrate better, exercise, and get up easily in the morning (as long as I take my pill right away). I understand that everyone reacts differently. But it's really saved my quality of life. F 23 6 months
75 MG 1X day
5/23/2012
Email
 5  Extreme daytime fatigue excessive talking, sweating, racing heart at times This medication has changed my life. I was not able to stay awake throughout the day without a nap, and when I was awake I was just going through the motions. I've been on this medication over a year where I was first prescribed 150 mg and also 10 mg of Ritalin. I no longer take the Ritalin, and am at 250 mg which works much better for me. This lasts all day long, and gives a feeling of being alert, attentive, and fully present. Whatever is in front of me has my full attention. I have to be more mindful of my priorities on this medication though. It can seem as though time flies by. I have taken vyvanse and adderall in the past and compared to those, this medication does not give me the nasty comedown that I experienced with those, or the side effects of excessive thirst and jittery feeling. It's a more gradual comedown, like you're slowly running out of gas. a more predictable and consistent feeling. It kicks in fully after about 1 hour on an empty stomach and I try to hold off on eating until the 2 hour mark, which is when it's in full effect for me. Then I must eat a little something or I'll become nauseous. I've tried to eat while I take it but notice it takes a lot longer to feel the effects then. I definitely can have trouble falling asleep if I take this too late in the morning, so a consistent routine is a must while using this medication. The withdrawal F 23 1 years
250mg 1X day
8/28/2020
Email
 4  Narcolepsy Dry mouth, headache, nausea, easily bruise, anxiety, irritable. I love it, and thank it to being able to live my life. Before I was sleeping over 20 hours a day. I would get up eat and go right back to sleep. I didn't feel like doing anything or being around anyone, I just wanted to sleep. While I have had side effects, I know that for me the pros outweigh the cons. I have learned to cope and deal with most of them. The headaches went away after a week or so, now I only notice them when I forget my pill. My doctor had recommended that I not take anything for the headaches because it would probably only make them worse if I ever do come off of it. Dry mouth I have been able to treat and I think is important to treat with an over the counter tooth paste and mouth wash called Biotene. I found out that dry mouth causes extra plaque to build up on your teeth and causing gum disease to form. Since I began the Biotene (which doesn't taste bad at all, just no extra minty flavor) I haven't had a problem with dry mouth. I found out that it does effect hormonal forms of birth control, so I convinced my doctor to put me on the ParaGard which uses no hormones and works for 10 years. The only long term form of birth control that I have complete control over. I still get nausea though I'm used to it by now. I still can go out and enjoy my friends...though I just feel a little sick to my stomach sometimes, when I do I just don't eat. I bruise easily...they don't hurt for me it's just a skin discoloring things. My anxiety and irritableness F 23 3 years
150 MG 1X day
7/27/2011
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NUVIGIL  (ARMODAFINIL):  Armodafinil reduces extreme sleepiness due to narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, such as periods of stopped breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea). It is also used to help you stay awake during work hours if you have a work schedule that keeps you from having a normal sleep routine (shift work sleep disorder). This medication does not cure these sleep disorders and may not get rid of all your sleepiness. Armodafinil does not take the place of getting enough sleep. It should not be used to treat tiredness or hold off sleep in people who do not have a sleep disorder. It is not known how armodafinil works to keep you awake. It is thought to work by affecting certain substances in the brain that control the sleep/wake cycle.   FDA Approval Date: 2007-06-15 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

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