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Wakefulness-promoting medicines for sleep apnea
Examples
Modafinil or armodafinil is taken as a pill once a day to decrease sleepiness during the day. How It WorksModafinil and armodafinil work by affecting chemicals in the brain. The effects improve alertness and memory. Why It Is UsedModafinil and armodafinil are used to relieve extreme sleepiness in people who are using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to treat sleep apnea but are still sleepy during the day. How Well It WorksIn people with sleep apnea who used CPAP, treatment with modafinil or armodafinil improved alertness, reduced tiredness, and improved memory.1, 2 Side EffectsThe most common side effects of modafinil and armodafinil are:
When side effects occur, they are usually mild to moderate. Rarely, modafinil and armodafinil can cause:
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.) What To Think AboutWakefulness-promoting medicines are recommended only after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy alone does not get rid of daytime sleepiness in a person with sleep apnea. The CPAP therapy should continue during modafinil or armodafinil treatment. Wakefulness-promoting medicines may interfere with birth control methods that use a form of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), such as birth control pills, the birth control patch, and the vaginal ring. You may need to use another form of birth control while you are taking modafinil or armodafinil. Some other medicines may be affected by modafinil and armodafinil, including warfarin, cyclosporin, and tricyclic antidepressants (such as clomipramine and desipramine). Before you start using modafinil or armodafinil, tell your doctor about all of the other medicines you are taking. People with severe liver disease may need a lower dose of modafinil or armodafinil.
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new medication information form (PDF) References
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