Armodafinil
Armodafinil appears here as Artvigil, a single 150 mg tablet in Sleep Management listed for Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and shift work sleep disorder. The medicine promotes wakefulness through a mechanism distinct from traditional stimulants.
Key points
- Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of modafinil, the component thought to drive the psychotropic wakefulness effect.
- It is classified as a central nervous system stimulant, a category that carries a risk of abuse.
- During breastfeeding, armodafinil should be used with careful infant monitoring, or an alternate drug may be preferred.
How does armodafinil work?
Armodafinil acts as a weak inhibitor of dopamine reuptake, meaning it slows the brain’s reabsorption of dopamine. This keeps more dopamine active in certain regions, promoting alertness.
The medicine interacts with liver enzymes that process other drugs, which can affect how those medicines work. It is not recommended in people with an enlarged left ventricle or a history of heart damage related to stimulant use.