Insufficient sleep can cause a variety of problems including high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. It can also interfere with our ability to fight off infections and keep our minds sharp. Excessive sleepiness is the main presenting symptom of many individuals seen in sleep clinics. Shift work sleep disorder (SWD) affects up to 32% of night shift and 26% of rotating shift workers.

What Is Modafinil?

Modafinil Tablet is a wakefulness-promoting medication that belongs to the family of stimulants. It acts to enhance several chemicals and neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and glutamate. It does this without the same jitteriness, euphoria and rebound sleep suppression of amphetamine or methylphenidate.

It has been shown to improve cognitive functions, and studies show that it increases performance in narcoleptic patients, enhancing their ability to think clearly and remember. It has also been used off-label to treat other conditions that cause fatigue, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome. It has even been given to soldiers and other people who are under stress or on military duty as a way to combat tiredness and fatigue.

Modafinil may increase the risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular problems. It may also cause severe or life-threatening rashes, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction (DRESS). Talk to your doctor before taking this medication.

How Does Modafinil Work?

Modafinil is in a class of drugs called wakefulness promoting agents. It works by changing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain to decrease sleepiness. It is used alone or with other treatment to treat excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

This medication may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or trouble thinking or controlling movements. Do not drive or use machines if you feel these effects. You should also avoid alcohol and other stimulants while taking this medication.

 Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medication may interact with oral contraceptives. Keep a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Share this list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Modafinil is increasingly being used as a lifestyle drug by entrepreneurs and millennials who seek to boost their focus and concentration. While past studies show that the drug is effective for sleep-deprived people, more research is needed on its long-term safety and effectiveness in healthy individuals.

What Are the Side Effects of Modafinil?

Modalert 200 mg is less likely to cause side effects like jitteriness, agitation or rebound fatigue than traditional stimulants. However, it is still a stimulant and therefore should be taken only as directed by a doctor. It is known to reduce fatigue in people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder and jet lag, as well as improving cognition, mood and attention.

It comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day at the same time each day. If you are taking it for narcolepsy or shift work sleep disorder, your doctor may advise you to take it in the morning or about an hour before your work starts.

Modalert is not recommended for use in people with severe liver disease or heart problems, including mitral valve prolapse. It can increase your risk of serious allergic reactions, especially a type called DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms). Talk to your doctor about any allergies to foods, medicines or herbal products before you start taking modafinil.