Artvigil 150 mg – UK To UK

What is Artvigil 150 mg?

Artvigil 150 mg is a prescription-medicine used for the treatment of sleeping disorders narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. Artvigil 150mg is a wakefulness promoting medicine used to keep you awake if suffering from unwanted extreme sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea & shift work sleep disorder. This drug is classified under the “eugeroics” group. This group contains all the wakefulness-promoting drugs.

The active ingredient in Artvigil 150 mg is armodafinil. It is available in the form of oral tablets. The chemical formula of armodafinil is C15H15NO2S. It is very similar to the stimulant drug- modafinil. Compared to the latter, it stays in the body for a longer time. It is a non-amphetamine drug. Amphetamines are a class of CNS stimulant drugs. However, compared to armodafinil, they are more likely to cause addiction. 

In 2007, the FDA approved the use of armodafinil for the treatment of narcolepsy. Later, in 2016, the FDA approved the first generic form of armodafinil. 

What are The Uses of Artvigil 150 mg Tablets?

Artvigil 150 mg in UK is used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. It is commonly used as below;

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. The patient cannot stay awake for long periods of time. The exact cause of narcolepsy is not known. Nonetheless, narcoleptic patients contain low amounts of hypocretin-1. This neurotransmitter is responsible for promoting a wakeful state. Other symptoms of narcolepsy include daytime sleepiness, drowsiness, cataplexy, etc. Some patients might experience intense symptoms like sleep paralysis and hallucinations. 

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

In OSA, the muscles supporting the soft tissue collapse while the person is sleeping. This blocks the airways of the throat. As a result, the person stops breathing several times at night. The breathing stops for at least 10 seconds. This condition is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Symptoms of OSA are loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, drowsiness, morning headaches, waking up with a dry mouth, etc. OSA reduces the productivity of an individual.

Shift work sleep disorder

This disorder is commonly found in people working non-traditional shifts. This is because the patient’s biological clock is disrupted. This leads to insufficient sleep, which worsens the patients’ productivity. Such people experience insomnia during sleeping hours and sleepiness during work hours. Other symptoms are lack of energy, moodiness, irritability, etc.

Armodafinil is also found to be effective in non-sleep related conditions. However, this type of use is not officially approved. Given below is a list of off-label uses of Artvigil 150 mg:

• Cancer-related fatigue
• Multiple-sclerosis fatigue
• Post-anaesthetic sedation
• Acute unipolar and bipolar depressive episodes
• Cocaine dependance
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

What are The Dosage Guidelines for Artvigil 150 mg Tablets?

Artvigil 150 mg should only be taken if the doctor instructs it.

Children below the age of 18 can not take Artvigil 150mg.

For narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea:

The recommended dosage is 150 mg of armodafinil or one tablet a day. Humans can tolerate a maximum of 250 mg of armodafinil. But higher concentrations do not necessarily mean better effects.

For shift work sleep disorder:

150 mg of armodafinil, which is one tablet, is recommended 1 hour before the shift begins.

How to Take An Artvigil 150 mg Tablet?

• Take a single table and swallow it whole with water. Do not break or chew the tablet.
• Keep specified timings to take the medicine.
• Do not alter the dosage or abruptly stop taking the medication.
• Do not take the medications close to bedtime.
• One can take the tablet with or without food.

Missed Dosage Guidelines:

• If patients miss a dose, they can take the missed dose as soon as they remember. But they must not take the dose if it is close to bedtime.
• Do not, under any circumstances, take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. This can lead to an overdose.
• If the dose is missed for a long time, inform the doctor immediately.

Overdosage Guidelines:

Patients must adhere to the dosage instructions given by their doctor. If they take more medication than instructed, it will result in an overdose. Following are the symptoms of an overdose:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Disorientation
• Hallucinations
• Nausea 
• Diarrhea
• Chest pain
• Confusion about time and place
• Restlessness
• Pounding in the ears

There is no antidote for an Artvigil 150mg overdose. It can only be treated with supportive care and cardiovascular monitoring.

How does An Artvigil 150mg Tablet Work?

The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Artvigil 150mg is armodafinil. It is the R-isomer present in the popular drug Modafinil. Hence, it has an almost identical method of action.

Armodafinil acts on the dopamine transporter (DAT). This prevents the reuptake of dopamine into the neurons. Hence, the extracellular concentration of dopamine increases. Dopamine is responsible for a number of functions, including the sleep cycle. This promotes wakefulness in a person. 

Armodafinil has no impact on the dopamine receptor. It has no effect on other neurotransmitter receptors connected to sleep either. This adds to the clinical significance of this drug. Apart from this, armodafinil can produce psychoactive effects typical of CNS stimulants. Hence, people must only consume Artvigil 150mg under a doctor’s guidance.

What are The Side Effects of Artvigil 150mg Tablets?

These are some of the most serious side effects of Artvigil 150mg. Although rare, these side effects can be fatal. Hence, call the doctor or emergency services immediately if the following symptoms occur:

Skin-related symptoms

Seemingly harmless skin reactions can evolve into serious conditions. Such conditions are life-threatening and require hospitalization. These include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Hence, always check for skin rashes, blistering, discoloration, and other skin symptoms.

Anaphylactic (allergic) reactions

Some people might be allergic to armodafinil or inactive constituents of Artvigil 150mg. This can lead to reactions like hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of eyes, throat, and tongue, etc. Some people might also have swollen lymph nodes.

Psychiatric symptoms

These reactions manifest in the form of agitation, irritability, episodes of mania, nervousness, hallucinations, etc. People who already have psychiatric conditions are at higher risk. Anyone with mania, depression, or psychosis should not use this medicine. Regardless of their mental health history, people should look out for psychiatric symptoms. 

Cardiac symptoms

The most common symptoms are chest pain, significant change in heartbeat, altered ECG results, arrhythmia, etc. People with left ventricular hypertrophy or mitral valve prolapse should not use this medication. Individuals with pre-existing heart problems are more likely to develop these signs. However, such reactions in any patient require immediate attention.

Multiorgan Hypersensitivity

This is a rare yet fatal reaction to medications. It is also known as Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). It is characterized by organ-specific complications. Examples of these complications are nephritis, myocarditis, hepatitis, pericarditis, etc. The main symptoms of DRESS include fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. Hematological (blood-related) parameters can also have abnormal changes.

General side effects of Artvigil 150mg:

• Back pain
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Anxiety

Precautions & Warnings:

Before taking Artvigil 150mg, follow the following precautions and warnings:

• Unless a doctor instructs you to, do not use this medication.
• Inform the doctor about health history, ongoing medication and dietary information.
• Strictly follow the dosage guidelines and timing for taking the drug.
• Inform the doctor about any side effects, missed doses, etc.
• Do not consume Artvigil 150mg with alcohol or controlled substances.
• Do not share this medication with other people. Especially if they have a history of alcoholism or drug abuse.
• Armodafinil reduces the efficiency of steroidal contraceptives. Hence, women taking this drug must switch to physical contraceptives.
• Avoid driving motor vehicles after consuming Artvigil 150mg
• It is not to be given to children under any medical conditions.

Interactions:

It is best to avoid taking Artvigil 150mg together with the following drugs:

• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
• Amphetamine, dextroamphetamine
• Methylphenidate or dexmethylphenidate
• Pemoline
• Procarbazine
• Warfarin 
• Cyclosporin

Food interactions with Artvigil 150mg::

• Alcohol
• Grapefruit
• Caffeine

FAQs:

Q. What does Artvigil 150mg do?

Artvigil 150mg is a brain stimulant. It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS). It makes the person consuming it more alert and awake. Hence, it is used for treating various sleeping disorders.

Q. Can I drive after taking Artvigil 150mg?

There are no reported accidents after taking armodafinil drugs. But remember that this is a brain-stimulating drug. It can alter judgement and actions. Hence, it is best not to drive after taking Artvigil 150mg.

Q. What are the side effects?

The common side effects are headaches, insomnia, dizziness, back pain, and digestive issues. If anyone experiences any other symptoms, immediately contact the doctor.

Q. Can I use Artvigil 150mg for improving concentration?

Some studies have shown that armodafinil indeed enhances cognitive abilities. However, there is ethical debate regarding its use for such purposes. As of now, Artvigil 150mg is not officially approved for this use.

Q. Who cannot take Artvigil 150mg?

Children cannot take Artvigil 150mg under any circumstances. Furthermore, patients with medical conditions must be careful before consuming it. This is because armodafinil can aggravate certain symptoms. Patients with liver and hepatic impairments must be especially careful.

Q. Can pregnant/lactating women take Artvigil 150mg?

There is no data about the effect of armodafinil on the fetus. It is also not known if the drug is passed on to the breast milk. Hence, doctors must administer Artvigil 150mg only if it is really necessary.