Manufacturer: TEVA
Pharmaceutical name: Modafinil
Pack: 1 pack (30 tabs (100 mg))
Modiodal is an oral medication used to enhance wakefulness in individuals who experience excessive sleepiness. Its effects resemble those of caffeine, as both drugs stimulate the brain to promote alertness. Therefore, both are categorized as stimulants. Other stimulants, such as dextroamphetamine and sibutramine, have different effects, including appetite suppression. All four drugs influence neurotransmitters in the brain, which are the chemicals used by nerve cells for communication; however, they interact with these neurotransmitters in distinct ways.
Modiodal is prescribed to increase wakefulness in patients dealing with excessive sleepiness linked to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (as a complementary treatment for the underlying obstruction), and shiftwork sleep disorder. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition highlighted by a recurring and uncontrollable urge to sleep. Shiftwork sleep disorder occurs when the natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted, often due to nighttime work.
Typically, Modiodal is administered at dosages of 200 or 400 mg per day, though the higher 400 mg dosage has not been proven to be more effective than the 200 mg option. Modiodal can be consumed with or without food.
Modiodal may alter the activity of liver enzymes responsible for metabolizing (eliminating) other medications. This alteration can cause some drugs to have reduced effectiveness and others to reach increased levels that may result in toxicity. Caution should be exercised when using Modiodal alongside these medications.
Medications that could potentially lose effectiveness when taken with modafinil include cyclosporine, theophylline, and hormonal contraceptives such as progestin-only or those containing estrogen and progesterone. It's advisable to consider alternative hormonal contraceptives or an additional non-drug contraceptive method during Modiodal treatment, with continued use for one month after stopping Modiodal therapy (since modafinil may continue to affect contraceptive hormones for several weeks). The interaction of Modiodal with hormonal contraceptives occurs regardless of whether the hormones are administered orally, via patch, or implant. The nature of any interactions between Modafinil and alcohol remains uncertain.
The most frequently reported side effects of Modiodal in clinical trials include headache, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia, each occurring in over 5% of patients.