What Is Armodafinil?

Armodafinil is a medication prescribed to patients who have been diagnosed with sleep disorders like narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder to reduce their extreme sleepiness. However, armodafinil does not cure sleep disorders nor is it guaranteed to completely get rid of the sleepiness sleep disorder patients experience. Do not take armodafinil as a replacement for a good night’s rest or if you have not been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Related Topic: Narcolepsy cure

Starting armodafinil can produce some side effects for sleep disorder patients. More common armodafinil side effects are headaches, nausea, dry mouth, nervousness, dizziness and difficulty sleeping. Talk to your doctor if these common armodafinil side effects get worse. Many patients do not experience serious side effects after taking armodafinil, but it is important to know these serious side effects in case you need to identify them. Serious side effects of armodafinil use include fast or irregular heartbeat, agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations and thoughts of suicide. Seek medical attention promptly if you start to notice any pain in the chest after you take armodafinil.

Armodafinil Withdrawal And Detox

Armodafinil treatment must be discontinued if you are looking to detox from the medication. Set up a meeting with your doctor to discuss how you should go about this process. Your armodafinil dosage and treatment schedule should never be changed without your doctor’s orders. In most cases, your doctor will gradually taper off your armodafinil dosage levels over time so your body can adjust to less of the medication accordingly.

What Are Common Armodafinil Withdrawal Symptoms?

Many patients do not experience severe withdrawal symptoms after they stop taking armodafinil. Some patients, however, have reported mild armodafinil withdrawal symptoms such as a decrease in energy levels, sleepiness and reduced alertness. 

Armodafinil Withdrawal Timeline And Symptom Durations

Not everyone will experience armodafinil withdrawal in the same way. This is because every patient has a physiology unique to them. In most cases, the armodafinil withdrawal timeline is relatively short. Factors that may influence how long armodafinil stays in your system are your age, metabolism, organ function, how long you have taken armodafinil, your armodafinil dosage levels and if you tapered off your armodafinil dose or stopped cold turkey. 

Armodafinil Medications And Detox

It is important that you keep a current list of all your medications, including over the counter drugs and herbal products, and share this information with your doctor. This is necessary because some medications and substances can interact with armodafinil in different ways. For instance, street drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy, have been shown to cause potentially dangerous interactions with armodafinil. Cough-and-cold products and diet aids have also been shown to raise some armodafinil patients’ blood pressure and heart rates. Do not drink excessively large amounts of tea, soda or coffee when you are taking armodafinil, as caffeine can increase your risk of armodafinil side effects.

If you are a female patient taking armodafinil, you may want to discuss your birth control options with your doctor. Armodafinil has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control methods such as pills, rings and patches.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.