Description
Modalert 100 mg is a psychostimulant drug with waking effect properties. It improves the conditions of people suffering from excessive sleepiness, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea. Modafinil, the active ingredient, belongs to a class of medications called wakefulness-promoting agents. It works by reducing the tendency to fall asleep during the day, thus restoring your normal sleep cycle. It is also prescribed for people working at odd hours (suffering from Shift Work Sleep Disorder, or SWSD).
How does it work?
Modalert 100 mg stimulates the brain and induces wakefulness properties that help you stay awake. Researchers believe that this drug works by targeting all these areas in the brain, particularly the hypothalamus and hippocampus, responsible for releasing hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Orexin neurons may be activated by this drug, thereby inducing wakefulness. It reduces the effect of sleep-promoting neurons on the brain. In this way, it helps a person to stay awake during their work hours and maintain a normal sleeping pattern.
Modalert 100 mg Uses
- Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that affects your brain’s activity which controls the sleep-wake cycle. It causes you to have an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep during the day involuntarily.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is when a person’s breathing stops or temporarily becomes shallow during sleep.
Shift work sleep disorder: Shift work sleep disorder occurs in individuals who work non-traditional or odd hours like late night shifts. It is characterized by excessive sleepiness, lack of sleep, and drowsiness.
Recommended dosage
Modalert 100 mg is usually taken at a fixed time (in the morning) with the recommended dose as advised by your doctor.
If you are suffering from Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD), it can be taken an hour before your work shift starts. Swallow the tablet as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. It can be taken with or without food.
Missed dose
If you happen to miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. It should not be taken twice during a 24-hour window.
Overdose
If someone has overdosed and is experiencing severe side effects, call your doctor immediately.
Modalert 100mg Side effects
Some of the common side effects of Modalert 100 mg include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
Less common side effects
- Back pain
- Belching
- Decrease in appetite
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty having a bowel movement
- Dryness of the skin
- Flushing
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Muscle stiffness
If the side effects persist for more than a day, call your doctor immediately.
Safety advice
Here are a few things to keep in mind before taking Modalert 100. It is also advisable to consult your doctor before taking this drug.
People allergic to any of the constituent ingredients of Modalert like Modafinil should not take this medication or consult their doctor before taking it.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take this drug as it can have harmful effects on the baby and taint the milk.
- Individuals suffering from kidney, liver, or heart conditions, should seek medical advice before using this medication.
- This drug should not be consumed with alcohol or grapefruit juice.
- People below the age of 18 years should not take this drug.
Drug interactions
Drug interactions can alter how a drug works or increase the risk of side effects. It is important to understand which medications your drug can interact with to minimize the risks. Talk to your doctor about your medical history. Here’s a list of drugs that interact with Modalert 100mg.
- Anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil)
- Antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
- Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
Storage instructions
Keep the medication tightly sealed in its original container.
- Store in a cool, dry (at 15-30°C) place.
- Keep it away from children and pets.
- Do not flush the tablets.
References
- Gerrard P, Malcolm R. Mechanisms of modafinil: A review of current research. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007 Jun;3(3):349-64. PMID: 19300566; PMCID: PMC2654794.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654794/ - Battleday RM, Brem AK. Modafinil for cognitive neuroenhancement in healthy non-sleep-deprived subjects: A systematic review. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2015 Nov;25(11):1865-81. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.07.028. Epub 2015 Aug 20. PMID: 26381811. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924977X15002497?via%3Dihub
- Repantis D, Bovy L, Ohla K, Kühn S, Dresler M. Cognitive enhancement effects of stimulants: a randomized controlled trial testing methylphenidate, modafinil, and caffeine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2021 Feb;238(2):441-451. doi: 10.1007/s00213-020-05691-w. Epub 2020 Nov 17. PMID: 33201262; PMCID: PMC7826302. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-020-05691-w
- Minzenberg MJ, Carter CS. Modafinil: a review of neurochemical actions and effects on cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Jun;33(7):1477-502. doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301534. Epub 2007 Aug 22. PMID: 17712350. https://www.nature.com/articles/1301534
- Kredlow MA, Keshishian A, Oppenheimer S, Otto MW. The Efficacy of Modafinil as a Cognitive Enhancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019 Sep/Oct;39(5):455-461. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001085. PMID: 31433334. https://journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/Abstract/2019/09000/The_Efficacy_of_Modafinil_as_a_Cognitive_Enhancer_.7.aspx
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