Armodafinil

Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a stimulant-like drug produced by the pharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc., which was approved by the FDA on June 15, 2007. Armodafinil is an enantiopure drug consisting of just the active (−)-(R)-enantiomer of the racemic drug modafinil (Provigil).

Indications
Armodafinil is approved by the FDA for the treatment of narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder, and as an adjunctive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

Cephalon plans to conduct clinical trials evaluating the use of Nuvigil as a treatment for serious medical conditions such as bipolar depression and fatigue in conditions such as Parkinson's disease and cancer. In June, 2010, it was revealed that a phase II study of Nuvigil as an adjunctive therapy in adults with schizophrenia had failed to meet the primary endpoints, and the clinical program was subsequently ceased.

The drug was being considered for the first FDA-approved medicinally-specific drug for combating jet-lag. but on March 30, 2010, the FDA declined to approve use of Nuvigil to treat jet lag.

Dosage
For narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, armodafinil is taken as a once daily 150 mg or 250 mg dose in the morning. For shift work sleep disorder, 150 mg of armodafinil are taken one hour prior to starting work. Slow dose titration is needed to mitigate some side effects.

Side effects
Armodafinil's common side effects include headache, nausea, insomnia, lack of appetite, dizziness, agitation, anxiety and high blood pressure.