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Online Nuvigil reviews from experienced users are some of the best sources for information about whether this drug is right for you.
Whether you are interested in taking Nuvigil for narcolepsy, sleep deprivation, ADHD, depression, weight loss or cognitive enhancement, there are other individuals who have been in your shoes and can share their experiences.
In some cases, user reviews provide more information in the subjective effects of a drug like Nuvigil (also known as Armodafinil).
These experience logs can tell you what it feels like to take this drug, what the benefits and side effects are as well as practical considerations for how to get the best results from this drug.
Of course, you should consult with a doctor to determine whether or not Nuvigil pills are appropriate for you, but the review below can help to get you acquainted with the effects of this “Smart Drug”.
Energy
Cognition
Motivation- Wakefulness-boosting stimulant
- Enhances motivation and focus
- Shown to boost mental performance
Nuvigil Review
Related Topics
- What is Armodafinil?
- What is Nuvigil?
- Armodafinil vs. Modafinil
- User Review
- Typical Nuvigil Experiences
- How it Works
- Nuvigil for ADHD
- Effects on Depression & Anxiety
- Dosage Recommendations
- How to Take
- Reported Side Effects
- Withdrawal & Tolerance
- Prescription Information
- Buying Nuvigil
- Generic Nuvigil Brands
- Is Armodafinil Legal?
- Is Nuvigil Safe?
- Comparison to Adderall
Nuvigil is an FDA-approved safe medication that is categorized as a Schedule IV prescription only drug and is primarily intended for use as a sleep regulator for sufferers of narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
However, there is a large number of people who are interested in using Nuvigil for other purposes. Many user reviews of Nuvigil tend to focus instead upon its effects on ADHD and intelligence-boosting properties.
Said to dramatically improve clarity of thoughts and attention span, Nuvigil could be a wonder-drug for learning and thinking. There has not been much resarch done using Nuvigil for these purposes directly, but some research on sleep disorders has seen cognitive boosting effects.
One double-blind placebo-controlled research study on narcolepsy found that compared to placebo patients, patients given Nuvigil has significantly improved attention and memory scores on the Cognitive Drug Research battery of tests. Similar results were seen in a study on shift-work sleep disorder.
Read on to find out what reviews are saying about Nuvigil’s effects, dosing, side effects, and legality.
Nuvigil Compared to Provigil
Provigil has been widely covered in the news for more than a decade as a potent intelligence booster and focusing aid. Users claim it allows them to concentrate upon detail oriented tasks for hours on end, banishing all distractions, while thoughts become dramatically sharper.
These claims led to a huge grey market trade of the trade, as well as a series of “knock-off” versions of the drug, of dubious quality and unknown ingredients.
At first glance, you might think that Nuvigil is identical to Provigil, but it isn’t. As countless Nuvigil reviews attest, this is an effective compound which produces all of the same effects as Provigil and may have additional benefits.
It was developed by the same team of French chemists who created the original Provigil, which is the brand name for the compound known as Modafinil.
Nuvigil, also known as the generic name Armodafinil, differs slightly in atomic structure. It is what’s known as an enantiopure variation of the Modafinil chemical formula, containing one less molecular isomer.
Isomers in pharmaceuticals are the molecules which give them shape, and typically come in near-identical pairs. By separating these pairs, we are able to produce purer, stronger versions of the same compound.
Nuvigil Strength and Efficacy Reviews
Among all eugeroic drugs (wakefulness compounds), Nuvigil is considered the strongest. For this reason, dosages of Nuvigil are not exactly comparable to its relatives Modafinil and Provigil, and can be equally effective at 30 percent less per dose.
While narcolepsy patients are instructed to take one 250 mg Nuvigil pill per day, this amount may be too much for people without sleep disorders who simply wish to experience Nuvigil’s nootropic effects.
At 150 mg per day, most users’ Nuvigil reviews report highly effective boosts to concentration and focusing power. If taken early in the day, this low dose can fuel an entire day’s worth of study or work.
However, most people feel these effects at doses at 100 mg or even lower. A common practice involves splitting a 100 mg pill into halves, and taking one in the morning and one in early afternoon. Starting with this low dose is probably the best idea, increasing gradually over successive days until best effects are reached, not exceeding 250 mg per day.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Nuvigil Reviews for Sleep Disorders
In the United States, Nuvigil is approved as a Schedule IV prescription drug to treat certain serious sleep disorders, namely narcolepsy and shift-work sleep disorder, and as an adjunct treatment for treating the residual excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Most people report having success using Nuvigil to treat their sleep disorder. The following are some reviews from users that describe their positive experiences using Nuvigil for sleep disorders:
For Narcolepsy: “I have been on nuvigil for almost a year now, this has been the only stimulant to work for me. I have narcolepsy and ADHD. So adderall and it’s relative medicines actually make more more of a zombie, albeit a very focused zombie. Nuvigil does not cause my heart to race ( I also have mitral valve prolapse ) it does not negatively effect my anxiety. This medicine has been a life saver for me!
It does effect my ability to feel hunger. I don’t get hungry until around 2 pm but honestly, this is a good thing bc when I eat I become very tired. This is due to the nature of Narcolepsy. We are low on orexin, so when we eat what little orexin we have gets ‘turned off’. Orexin is the chemical in the brain that helps regulate wake and sleep. Orexin on means awake, orexin off means asleep. Orexin is directly effected by food intake.” – Lynne [1]
For Shift-Work Sleep Disorder: “I work two full-time jobs in Information Technology on a high level at both jobs. I have to be razor sharp or the effects could be catastrophic. I have been using Nuvigil for almost 16 months. When I was younger I was diagnosed with ADD and took Ritalin which helped but as I got older taking that was not realistic.
Nuvigil has been a godsend. I am able to articulate my thoughts clearly, finish tasks at hand efficiently and timely, and also having ADD with Nuvigil it almost propels me in some weird microcosm of being smarter than 90% of the people around me. I am not sure how or why but that is my story and I gain nothing from this except hoping to help someone else who is lost in the woods “- Life Changing [1]
For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome: “I was undiagnosed with severe Otructive Sleep Apnea/Hyponea Syndrome for 10 years. I would sleep from 9 to 11 hours a night and was still tired. I also had terrible headache whenever I woke up. I had surgery for a deviated septum and had my uvula removed. CPAP was a huge improvement but I still woke up tired and foggy. Still had to nap during the day.
My doctor and I fought for 2 years with the insurance company to get approved for Nuvigil. Without insurance I would have to pay $719 per month for 30 pills 150mg. With insurance my copay is $50. Since taking Nuvigil my life has changed for the better. I wake up without the fog and can stay active for 15 hours without taking a nap. Nuvigil gave me my life back!”- wpcj [1]
Reviews of Off-Label Nuvigil Uses
Any use of Nuvigil that is not one of the approved sleep disorders listed above is considered an off-label use. Some of the most common off-label uses include reducing fatigue, for jet lag, and treating the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
One of the most common uses is taking the drug as a smart drug for cognitive enhancing purposes. Users have reported that they have improved mental energy, concentration, and focus; enhanced motivation to complete tasks; and improved memory formation, retention, and recall.
The following are some user reviews detailing positive experience people have had using Nuvigil off-label:
For ADHD: “I’ve only been on it for two days but the results have been fantastic. I switched to this from Adderall, which gave me energy and made me more social but made me jittery and did not help with my concentration or organization. Nuvigil helps me stay focused, motivated and clear headed throughout the day.”- RosyRabbit [1]
For Fibromyalgia: “I’ve have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and neuro-musculoskeletal disease as well as Multiple Sclerosis and depression. I was told of Nuvigil by a friend who also suffers with MS and fibromyalgia. I found myself in a deep depression with so much pain I was sleeping 18 hrs a day.
But since I’ve been on Nuvigil I am able to stay awake more alert and have been able to get my life back. It doesn’t whack me out like Adderall did. I feel happier and more alert thanks to Nuvigil. This has been a wonderful experience and I thank my friend for suggesting it. What a life saver!”- GMorocks71 [1]
For ADHD: “Overall experience: I would definitely take armodafinil over Ritalin any day because it helped enough to help me do the stuff I needed to do without leaving me feeling kinda low or freaked out like with Ritalin. If given the choice by a doctor I would choice Nuvigil over Ritalin but because I’m a tight bastard, and don’t want to pay for anything so long as I don’t have to plus I would probably never get offered Nuvigil by the doctors since its more expensive than Ritalin and not even approved for it despite being better than it in my view.
I’m going to buy a large amount of it until I finally go see the ADHD specialists which will be a few months, and they probably will offer me a Ritalin prescription but I don’t really want Ritalin I want armodafinil now. – Darrell E [3]
Nuvigil Reviews of Side Effects
Nuvigil is considered generally well tolerated in adults who take recommended dosages. However, there are some commonly reported mild side effects from scientific studies and user reviews, including:
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
- insomnia
- anxiety
- diarrhea
- depression
- dry mouth
- indigestion
- heart palpitations
- upper abdominal pain
The primary side effect noted in Nuvigil reviews is headache. This relatively minor condition is easily remedied with over the counter pain relievers. Some users have also said that adding a quality choline supplement like Alpha GPC helps reduce their headaches.
Another issue for Nuvigil users is potential over-stimulation. If dosage is too high, or taken too late in the day, Nuvigil may cause some sleeplessness, restlessness, and some jitters.
Just as with Provigil side effects, these effects can often be avoided by respecting dosage and timing.
In some more rare cases, Nuvigil can cause excessive tiredness, easy bruising, yellowing skin, or sore throat. It can also interact negatively with blood pressure medicine, alpha blockers, liver medication, and all amphetamines.
Most people do not take Nuvigil in conjunction with other drugs or nootropics as it is best experienced as a standalone pill and can exacerbate side effects of other supplements.
There is the possibility of developing one of a group of rare skin and mucous membrane reactions when taking Nuvigil. These conditions are Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).
People with a certain genetic predisposition are more susceptible to developing these conditions when they take certain medications such as Nuvigil. Stop taking the drug immediately and speak with your doctor if you develop a fever and a spreading, blistering rash.
The following are some user reviews that described some negative experiences and side effects from using Nuvigil:
“Not advisable for those with anxiety or PTSD.[…] 9 months on this, and I was hyper-focusing and staying up all night researching, but unable to attend to daily tasks and decision making. It increased my anxiety and I started to experience paranoia and ended up in the ER for anxiety and PTSD related issues.
It took two month to get my life back on track after being on this medication. I wanted a break from Adderall, but Nuvigil 250 did not end up being a functional alternative.” – Anonymous [2]
“Doc prescribed generic nuvigil 250 mg. I wasnt given any instructions to titrate up to that dose. Took whole tab. Had gradual onaet of symptoms over about a 2.5 hour time period. Felt like my brain was vibrating. Heart palpitations. Hand tremor. Nausea. Super wide awake….. For 17 hours.
Couldnt quit talking. Short of breath at times. Good concentration and focus. …but brain dead as far as decisions.” – Anonymous [2]
“I am 38 and I have been taking this medicine two weeks and I am having serious problem breathing and getting a deep breath in, my inhaler does not help. I have diarrhea and my face has broken out worse than it ever did when I was a teenager. I have also had random pounding, sharp, shooting headaches come out of no where.”- Anonymous [1]
Online Sources of Nuvigil
Nuvigil is not available legally in the U.S. without a prescription. However, most Nuvigil reviews mention grey market vendor sources of the drug from international pharmacies.
These overseas vendors, often based in countries where pharmaceutical sales are not regulated, do not require a prescription. However, they are not considered reliable sources of quality medication, and are often subject to seizure by U.S. Customs upon shipping, if they are unaccompanied by prescription paperwork.
Furthermore, the quality of international pharmaceutical products is in serious question. With no oversight by an agency like the FDA, there are no guarantees about product integrity. The informed nootropic user is advised to use great caution with these sites.
Before buying Nuvigil from any international pharmacy source, make sure to consult user reviews to determine whether you are ordering a legitimate pill or a fake compound.
Nuvigil Replacements
So, where do people who are simply curious about the effects of smart drugs go to purchase these pills legally and safely? Unfortunately, without a prescription, there is no legal way to obtain Nuvigil in most Western countries.
As doctors almost never give prescriptions for off-label uses of drugs (as any Nuvigil use other than treatment of sleep disorders is considered), the nootropic community has had to look elsewhere for compounds which produce similar effects. Two of the most popular Nuvigil alternatives are Adrafinil and the Racetams.
Adrafinil is the prodrug of Modafinil. This compound was actually discovered two years before Modafinil, and testing on it led to the discovery of Modafinil.
When ingested, Adrafinil travels to the liver and is broken down there into its component parts, the inactive modafinilic acid and the active Modafinil. The effects of Adrafinil in the body are due to the Modafinil it contains. Once this supplement is metabolized in the liver into Modafinil, it is known to produce nearly identical cognitive effects as Nuvigil.
Luckily, Adrafinil is an unscheduled, unregulated compound that is legal to buy and own in the U.S. Due to FDA laws on the sale of compounds like this, it is not available for sale within the US, however it is available for sale on many quality nootropic websites.
As many Nuvigil reviews point out, this is currently the only way to legally enjoy the most similar concentration-boosting effects of this miracle intelligence enhancer today.
Another nootropic that some people use as a Nuvigil alternative are one of the Racetams. This family of compounds are all related to the parent compound, Piracetam, that was first developed in the 1960s.
Piracetam has been observed to positively affect the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine in the brain and central nervous system. Elevated Acetylcholine levels are tied to increased general cognition, learning ability, and memory.
The other Racetams – Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam, Phenylpiracetam – are all more potent compounds that have been derived from Piracetam, and often have additional cognitive effects in addition to effects on Acetylcholine.
For example, Phenylpiracetam is considered between 50-60 times as powerful as Piracetam. It has been said to have powerful mental energy boosting effects that can last up to 8 hours, which for some makes it a good substitute for Nuvigil’s effects.
The Racetams, like Adrafinil, are unregulated, unscheduled compounds and are legal to buy and use in most countries. It is recommended to try and use a non-prescription Nuvigil alternative instead of taking the risk of buying without a prescription from an international online pharmacy.
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- User Reviews for Nuvigil, Drugs.com
- Nuvigil User Reviews, EverydayHealth.com
- Darrell E. "Better than Ritalin: An Experience with Armodafinil (exp105619)". Erowid.org. Dec 21, 2016. erowid.org/exp/105619
- Darwish M, Kirby M, Hellriegel ET, Yang R, Robertson P Jr. Systemic exposure to armodafinil and its tolerability in healthy elderly versus young men: an open-label, multiple-dose, parallel-group study. Drugs Aging. 2011
- Darwish M, Kirby M, Hellriegel ET. Comparison of steady-state plasma concentrations of armodafinil and modafinil late in the day following morning administration: post hoc analysis of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose studies in healthy male subjects. Clin Drug Investig. 2009
- Sukhal S, Khalid M, Tulaimat A. Effect of Wakefulness-promoting Agents on Sleepiness in Patients with Sleep Apnea Treated with CPAP: A Meta-analysis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2015
- Vetrivelan R, Saper CB, Fuller PM. Armodafinil-induced wakefulness in animals with ventrolateral preoptic lesions. Nat Sci Sleep. 2014
- Schwartz JR, Khan A, McCall WV, Weintraub J, Tiller J. Tolerability and efficacy of armodafinil in naïve patients with excessive sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, shift work disorder, or narcolepsy: a 12-month, open-label, flexible-dose study with an extension period. J Clin Sleep Med. 2010
- Darwish M, Kirby M, Hellriegel ET, Yang R, Robertson P Jr. Pharmacokinetic profile of armodafinil in healthy subjects: pooled analysis of data from three randomized studies. Clin Drug Investig. 2009
- Howard R, Roth T, Drake CL. The effects of armodafinil on objective sleepiness and performance in a shift work disorder sample unselected for objective sleepiness. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2014
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment