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Nuvigil

Armodafinil

  • Promotes wakefulness
  • Improves memory and mental acuity
  • Increases focus and alertness
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Nuvigil Review – Dosage, Benefits, Side Effects (Beginner’s Guide)

Nuvigil Drugs Review

Nuvigil is undoubtedly one of the strongest and safest wake-promoting/cognitive-enhancing medications on the market today. But while it is super-safe and highly effective, there’s a lot you should learn about before starting treatment with it. Taking it incorrectly may cause it to be ineffective or even increase the risk of experiencing undesirable side effects. Read this detailed Nuvigil review to find out everything you need to know: from its dosage and benefits to its side effects.

What Is Nuvigil?

Nuvigil is a wakefulness-promoting medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat 3 major sleep disorders [1]:

  • narcolepsy;
  • shift work sleep disorder (SWSD);
  • obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

It is available in 4 dosage forms: 50 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, and 250 mg. Since its approval for use in June 2007, it has proven safe and effective in eliminating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by the aforementioned disorders [2]. But today, its use has gone beyond treating sleep disorders — many healthy individuals now take it off-label to improve cognition. As a cognitive enhancer, Nuvigil is believed to provide the following benefits:

  • 12+ hours of laser-sharp focus;
  • increased alertness;
  • improved memory;
  • faster mental processing speed.

Although its off-label use is unapproved by the FDA and even discouraged, many healthy individuals continue to use it, stating that it works. With the ever-increasing number of users and popularity of Nuvigil for cognitive enhancement, it’s hard to deny the remarkably high likelihood of its effectiveness for this purpose. No wonder college students, engineers, celebrities, presidents, computer programmers, and data scientists, among other professionals from all walks of life, use it.

Nuvigil is safe, but it is not recommended for use in individuals who are below the age of 18 years. Avoid taking it if you find that you’re allergic to any of its ingredients or have had an allergic reaction to them at any time [3].

Popular Nuvigil (Armodafinil) Alternatives

Nuvigil is quite popular and available in several parts of the world. And although proven to be super-effective, its price is a little on the high side. Fortunately, its main ingredient, armodafinil, is available in generic forms such as Waklert, Artvigil, and Armodavinil, which come at a much cheaper price.

Contrary to popular belief, generic meds aren’t inferior to their brand-name counterparts. The major reason they cost less is that their manufacturers do not have to go through the lengthy, time-consuming, and expensive processes (research, development, drug testing, marketing, etc.) that the brand drug manufacturer had to go through [4]. This helps them save some money, which they, in turn, pass down to the consumers.

Let’s take a look at the more affordable Nuvigil (armodafinil) alternatives in more detail:

Waklert

Waklert Pills Sun Pharma

Waklert is one of the most popular armodafinil generics produced by Sun Pharma. It contains the same amount of armodafinil as its brand-name counterpart and thus, provides similar benefits, strength, dosage, performance, and side effects. Waklert is equally used medically to eliminate the symptoms of sleep disorder, as well as off-label to boost cognitive function and achieve a remarkable increase in performance.

Sun Pharma is a well-known pharmaceutical company based in India. It specializes in producing varying pharmaceutical formulations and active ingredients for local supply and the United States market as well.

Artvigil

Artvigil is yet another very popular generic alternative to Nuvigil. It is produced by HAB Pharma — a reputable Indian-based pharmaceutical company known for manufacturing high-quality drugs for varying conditions. Just as Waklert, Nuvigil contains the same amount of the active ingredient in its brand-name counterpart and thus provides the same level of safety and effectiveness. Artvigil is proven effective in boosting cognition, as well as promoting wakefulness in individuals with sleep disorders.

Armodavinil

Armodavinil is a relatively new alternative to Nuvigil. However, it has fast risen in popularity, thanks to its affordability and proven level of safety and effectiveness. The drug is manufactured by Centurion Laboratories and presents itself as a perfect replacement to Waklert, which will no longer be available in the United States and a few other countries due to some legal problems.

Considering the fact that the aforementioned generic alternatives to Nuvigil cost much less, they present a great opportunity to get the best value for money. But what is the guarantee that they’ll provide the same results? Well, most people who’ve used both brand-name and one or more of these generic versions report noticing no difference in their safety and effectiveness. Consequently, if you’re a regular smart drug user, focusing on high-quality generics from trusted suppliers may be the best way to go.

Where to Buy Generic Nuvigil Drugs?

Buy Pills Online

Nuvigil is relatively easy to buy. It is available both in local stores and in online pharmacies. However, to get it from a local pharmacy, you will need to present a valid prescription issued by a state-licensed doctor.

At this point, it is worth noting that Nuvigil is a controlled substance, and as such, to get a prescription, you would need to be suffering from one of the disorders it is approved to treat. Thus, unless you suffer from narcolepsy, SWSD, or OSA, it is practically impossible to get a prescription and thus buy it from a local pharmacy.

People who use armodafinil off-label for cognitive enhancements buy it online. Several e-pharmacies offer the generics over the counter. This means that you can get them without a prescription. However, note that not all online armodafinil vendors are to be trusted: some sell counterfeit pills, others defraud unsuspecting customers by running credit card scams. This is why the importance of buying from tested and trusted pharmacies cannot be overemphasized.

If you’re looking to buy high-quality Nuvigil or its generics online, there are 3 pharmacies you can bank on any day, any time. They are ModafinilXL.com, HighStreetPharma.com, and BuyModafinilOnline.com. They all provide a 100% money-back guarantee; this means that you’ll get a full refund or have your package reshipped if it gets damaged or goes missing.

What’s more, they provide excellent customer service, reasonable prices, amazing discounts, and ultra-fast delivery.

You can do a price comparison to help you decide which of these vendors offer the best value for your money. Don’t forget to put their profitable offers into consideration.

What Is the Cost of Nuvigil Pills?

Nuvigil doesn’t have a fixed price; it may vary based on where it is purchased, the number of pills selected, and the profitable offers available via coupon codes and vouchers.

On average, 30 tablets sell for around $361 on certain pharmacies: this translates to about $12 per pill [5]. This is expensive and could be more so, depending on how long you plan to use the drug.

As you’d expect, the generic versions cost considerably less. On ModafinilXL, 30 tablets of Waklert 150 mg pills sell for $69; thus, each pill goes for as little as $2.3. Interestingly, the price per pill decreases with the more pills a customer selects. For instance, the pharmacy sells a single pill at $0.89 if a package of 500 pills is selected. This is not to mention further discounts that can be taken advantage of to get the pills at a price even cheaper.

How Does Nuvigil Work?

Armodafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medication. However, as fascinating as it may sound, scientists are yet to fully understand the exact way it works to promote wakefulness and even bring about cognitive enhancement. But based on some foundational knowledge of how its active ingredient affects the brain, some experts have come up with an explanation. They believe it works by regulating the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and some other neurotransmitters in the brain. The amount of these chemicals in the brain at any point in time is known to influence the wake-sleep cycle and mood [6].

Nuvigil Dosage: Take Meds More Effective

Throughout this guide, we have laid emphasis on how effective Nuvigil is. While this is actually the case, it is worth noting that how the drug is used may affect both its safety and effectiveness. Suffice to say, the importance of administering the medication correctly cannot be overemphasized.

Note that Nuvigil’s right time of administration may vary depending on the condition looking to be treated. For starters, when used to treat narcolepsy or OSA, one tablet is to be taken as early in the morning as possible. Recall that the drug stays active for 12+ hours. Thus, taking the pill later in the day could make sleeping at night incredibly difficult.

Take Pill

On the other hand, when used to treat SWSD or off-label to boost cognition, the tablet should be taken about 1 hour before starting the activity. The starting dosage often recommended for use is 150 mg to 250 mg. Note that taking more than a single dose per day could increase the risk of experiencing side effects. Do not crush, split, or dissolve armodafinil tablets in water. Swallow whole with a substantial amount of water.

You will find this drug safe and more effective if you use it exactly as prescribed by a doctor or healthcare provider.

What About Interactions with Other Drugs, Food, Alcohol?

Armodafinil interacts with certain medications, foods, beverages, and alcohol. Consequently, it is important to be aware of such substances and avoid them. Interactions are terrible; they can make Nuvigil ineffective or even increase the risk of suffering from terrible side effects.

Drugs that can interact with armodafinil include [8]:

  • clonazepam;
  • Cymbalta (duloxetine);
  • omeprazole;
  • Lexapro (escitalopram);
  • gabapentin;
  • levothyroxine.

Generally, hormonal products, antidepressants (for depression treatment), blood thinners, antifungals, some antibiotics, and opioids interact with Nuvigil — avoid them. Note that there are several other drugs not listed here that could cause an interaction. Do well go through the information leaflet in drug packaging, as well as consult your doctor before starting treatment with any medication while taking Nuvigil.

Armodafinil can be taken before or after a meal. However, it is advisable to avoid fatty foods as they’re known to prolong the drug’s onset of effects. Other substances to avoid include other “smart drugs,” coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine, and energy drinks.

Side Effects of Nuvigil Tabs

Nuvigil is a safe and effective medication with an incredibly low potential for addiction, but it is not without side effects — no drug is. Interestingly, the common adverse effects, which typically affect some people when they first start taking the drug, are usually mild and tend to disappear without treatment. Some of them include [7]:

  • diarrhea;
  • nausea;
  • dry mouth;
  • headache;
  • stomach upset;
  • runny or stuffy nose.

The bad news is that Nuvigil use may also cause more serious side effects. Some of them include:

  • fast or irregular heartbeat;
  • insomnia;
  • anxiety;
  • restlessness;
  • confusion;
  • weight loss;
  • agitation;
  • hallucination;
  • depression.

The good news is that these serious and obviously more dangerous adverse effects rarely occur. Even better, most cases of them have been found to be triggered by incorrect use, such as overdosing. The aforementioned serious adverse effects can sometimes be life-threatening, especially if left unattended. Consult your doctor as soon as very uncomfortable experiences set in after popping the pill.

Is Nuvigil Medication Addictive?

Nuvigil has a low potential for addiction, especially when compared to other wakefulness-promoting medications. However, this does not mean that there’s a zero risk of addiction: there are risks. In fact, it is worth noting that although Nuvigil is more potent than modafinil — “the world’s first safe ‘smart drug,’” it poses a higher risk of addiction. This is why it is advisable to never share the pills with anyone, especially individuals who have a history of addiction or drug abuse [9][10][11].

Consequently, suddenly stopping Nuvigil administration may cause withdrawal symptoms. Let your doctor know wherever you decide to stop taking it. They may slowly lower your dose to help prevent the symptoms. Note that people who have used armodafinil for the long term or take really high doses are more likely to experience withdrawal effects [12].

Nuvigil Withdrawal: Main Symptoms

We’ve established that Nuvigil may cause withdrawal symptoms, even though it is uncommon. The main symptoms that often occur when it is used for long-term and stopped suddenly or taken in high doses may include [12]:

  • nausea;
  • confusion;
  • sweating;
  • vomiting;
  • chills;
  • shaking.

At this point, it is worth noting that many people have reported never experiencing withdrawal symptoms since they started using Nuvigil. It is true that different people respond to meds differently. However, if you take Nuvigil exactly as prescribed, you drastically reduce your chances of suffering from side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

Difference Between Nuvigil vs Provigil

Nuvigil vs Provigil: they belong to the same drug class — wakefulness-promoting meds. Consequently, they have a lot in common, as well as differences. For starters, they both work effectively when used to treat sleep disorders and off-label for cognitive enhancement.

Provigil contains modafinil as its active ingredient. It was approved by the FDA much earlier, in 1998. On the other hand, Nuvigil was approved in 2007. Based on the fact that Nuvigil was developed earlier, it was naturally improved to provide more benefits while posing an even lower risk of adverse effects. With Nuvigil 150 mg providing the same effects as Provigil 200 mg, these tabs are more potent (1.33 times stronger) and often last longer in the body [13]. Because it can be administered in smaller doses, it poses a minimal risk of adverse effects.

Provigil Tablets

Currently, few to no studies have compared both medications directly to determine the more effective and safer choice. Also, user reviews do not help with pointing out the preferred one as both products equally have great ratings. In the end, considering the fact that different people respond differently to medications, the best way to determine which one works best for you may be to try both of them out.

The Modafinil/Armodafinil Combo Pack offered by ModafinilXL.com can help you get both products at an affordable price: saves you the unnecessary expense you might have incurred from buying both products individually.

Compare Nuvigil vs Adderall

First and foremost, it is important to understand right away that Nuvigil and Adderall belong to different drug classes. While the former belongs to the drug class commonly called wakefulness-promoting medications, Adderall, on the other hand, belongs to a class called amphetamines [14]. Adderall is approved for treating Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), while Nuvigil is only sometimes used off-label for this purpose, among its other uses.

Adderall Pills

Another major difference between these drugs is their level of safety. Adderall poses a much higher risk of addiction compared to its counterpart. Thus, because Nuvigil is less habit-forming, most doctors consider it a better treatment option, especially for individuals with a history of addiction or drug abuse.

Summing Up

Nuvigil is a great drug for enhancing mental function and eliminating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep disorders. It is safe, effective, and has a low potential for addiction, especially when compared to other drugs such as Adderall. If you’re going to use it, be sure to first consult your doctor, buy it from a reputable pharmacy (such as those mentioned earlier in this guide), and take it exactly as prescribed or recommended in the drug information leaflet.

References

  1. Armodafinil. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Wikipedia.org.
  2. Armodafinil – an overview. By Kevin K.-C. Liu. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Sciencedirect.com.
  3. Important Safety Information | NUVIGIL (armodafinil) Tablets. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Nuvigil.com.
  4. Generic Drug Facts. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Fda.gov.
  5. Nuvigil Prices, Coupons, & Patient Assistance Programs. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Drugs.com.
  6. Armodafinil (Nuvigil) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage. Written by Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD. Medically reviewed by Jay W. Marks, MD. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Medicinenet.com.
  7. Side Effects of Nuvigil (Armodafinil), Warnings, and Uses. Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Rxlist.com.
  8. Nuvigil Interactions Checker. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Drugs.com.
  9. Armodafinil Addiction and Abuse. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Therecoveryvillage.com.
  10. Armodafinil Addiction, Nuvigil Detox & Rehab Treatment. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Castlecraig.co.uk.
  11. Nuvigil: Uses, How to Take, Side Effects, Warnings. Medically reviewed by Kaci Durbin, MD. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Drugs.com.
  12. Nuvigil Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Webmd.com.
  13. Armodafinil vs. modafinil: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you. By Gerardo Sison, Pharm.D. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Singlecare.com.
  14. Nuvigil vs. Adderall Prescription Treatment for Narcolepsy: Differences and Side Effects. Medical and Pharmacy Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP. Retrieved: March 5, 2022. Rxlist.com.
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