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In the UK, Nuvigil is the brand name for Armodafinil – a highly potent analeptic.
Armodafinil is a drug used to promote a natural sense of wakefulness and heightened awareness in the user without causing uncomfortable side effects like those which often coincide with other stimulants.
Nuvigil use ranges from helping narcoleptics to stay awake during the day to boosting the mental abilities of shift workers who are on irregular work and sleep schedules.
It is also used profligately in the UK as a “smart drug” because many reviews state that it makes them feel more intelligent and clearer-headed when taking it.
For this reason, there has been a lot of discussion of how Nuvigil is regulated in the UK.
What exactly is the legal status of Nuvigil in the United Kingdom and can it be purchased legally without a prescription? This article will discuss the history of Nuvigil’s development, its prescribed uses, common off-label uses, the legal status of Nuvigil in the UK, and non-prescription alternatives.
Energy
Cognition
Motivation- Wakefulness-boosting stimulant
- Enhances motivation and focus
- Shown to boost mental performance
History of Nuvigil
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
The same company which currently manufactures Armodafinil (Nuvigil), has manufactured two previous incarnations of the drug prior to this one. The first drug in this category is Adrafinil, which was followed closely by Armodafinil’s close predecessor, Modafinil.
The earliest and original predecessor to Nuvigil was a drug called Adrafinil developed by the French pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories in 1974. This compound is one of a group of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that were discovered by these scientists.
During testing done to determine what Adrafinil’s mechanism of action is in the body, Modafinil was discovered. Adrafinil is the prodrug to Modafinil, meaning that when Adrafinil is introduced to the body, it is converted to Modafinil.
After ingestion, Adrafinil is transported to the liver, where it is metabolized into its component parts, the inactive modafinilic acid, and the active Modafinil. Modafinil has been determined to be the primary active compound in Adrafinil. and what causes its effects in the body.
Provigil is the brand name given to this proprietary form of Modafinil. Lafon Laboratories was bought by the pharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc in 2001.
Provigil had been manufactured and marketed very successfully by Lafon and then Cephalon, but their patent was due to expire. In order to help maintain an exclusive share of the market, they set out to develop a chemically purer form of Modafinil. Nuvigil is this purer version.
Modafinil is made up of two stereoisomers of the same molecular structure that are mirror image copies of each other known as enantiomers. These are the R- and S- enantiomers. Modafinil is considered a racemic compound because it is made up of equal proportions of both enantiomers.
It was found that the R-enantiomer is the more stable, active, and longer-lasting isomer, with the S-enantiomer being largely inactive. By isolating this enantiomer alone, it was possible to make a drug that was more potent at equivalent dosages, and possibly has fewer side effects.
Armodafinil therefore is a purified version of Modafinil that is made up of just the R-enantiomer – hence the name Armodafinil, which comes from R-Modafinil. The brand name version of Armodafinil made by Cephalon is called Nuvigil.
Cephalon was acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in 2011. As a subsidiary of Teva, Cephalon still makes the original brand name versions of Modafinil and Armodafinil, Provigil and Nuvigil.
Nuvigil was introduced as a prescription drug in 2007. Both Provigil and Nuvigil require a prescription in the United Kingdom and in many other countries around the world including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Nuvigil for Sleep Disorders
Nuvigil was specifically developed for individuals who suffer from forms of excessive fatigue and difficulty staying alert during the day. These symptoms are often found in patients with narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
In the United Kingdom, Provigil and Nuvigil were previously approved for the above three sleep disorders. More recently though, these drugs are only officially indicated for the treatment of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is therefore the only on-label diagnosis for which your doctor might proffer a prescription for Nuvigil.
Off-Label Nuvigil Uses
Because of the natural wakeful state Nuvigil affords the user, along with a small host of other beneficial effects, Nuvigil is sometimes used off-label for a variety of purposes.
People with chronic fatigue disorder and fatigue related to diseases such as depression, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease have reported that Nuvigil reduces their fatigue and helps them live a more normal life. Travelers report a significant reduction in jet lag if they take Nuvigil at the beginning of the first day in their new time zone.
In the USA, Nuvigil is sometimes prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other types of cognitive impairment, although this usage is still rare. Nuvigil is viewed as a much safer alternative to Adderall and other study pills that students may be acquiring without a legitimate prescription.
One of the most common off-label uses of both Provigil and Nuvigil is as cognitive enhancers, or smart drugs. Besides promoting an alert and wakeful state, Nuvigil also can enhance the user’s motivation and productivity.
Executives and web developers who often work long hours on short deadlines report occasional use of Nuvigil helps them complete projects on time by decreasing fatigue and keeping their focus sharp. Users have reported that using Nuvigil helps increase their concentration and focus on a topic for hours at a time, improves their motivation to complete tasks, and improves their memory formation, retention, and recall.
There has not been any research done directly looking at the cognitive enhancing effects of Nuvigil, but these effects have been studied in trials focused on various sleep disorders. In one study on shift-work sleep disorder, it was seen that Nuvigil patients had improved scores on standardized tests of attention and memory from the Cognitive Drug Research battery of tests. Similar results were seen in a study on narcolepsy.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Is it Legal in the UK?
To buy, use, or possess Nuvigil in the United Kingdom, you will need to have a doctor’s prescription for the drug. Nuvigil is considered a regulated drug in the UK and has been added to the prescription-only medication (POM) grouping of drugs.
You can speak to your doctor if you are interested in finding out whether you qualify for a prescription. Only they will be able to determine whether this is the right medication for you.
Because non-generic Nuvigil can be incredibly expensive, many users of this drug in the UK have expressed interest in being able to buy generic versions that are sold over the internet from off-shore pharmacies. These pharmacies are often based in India or other countries where the Cephalon trademarks may not apply.
Residents of the United Kingdom who have a prescription for Nuvigil are permitted to import their supply from the pharmacy of their choice, including those not located within the country. You may be asked to provide proof of your prescription, should you elect to import Nuvigil rather than buying it at your local pharmacy.
All drugs being imported are subject to seizure by customs officials if a prescription does not accompany them.
There are some reports of UK residents without a prescription ordering Nuvigil from various online pharmacies which do not require proof of a prescription. We do not recommend this practice. Your order could be stopped in customs and, if you do receive it, it can be difficult to determine if you have the real drug or some other inert chemical.
Not only could you lose your money if your shipment is stopped at the border, but you could also end up with a low-purity or fake compound from a country that does not have as strict rules as the UK does for medications.
Alternatives to Nuvigil in the UK
Instead of risking your health and money buying Nuvigil without a prescription from an international online pharmacy, consider using a non-prescription Nuvigil alternative instead. Two of the most common substitutes are Adrafinil or one of the Racetams (except for Piracetam).
As described above, Adrafinil is the prodrug of Modafinil. It is converted into this active compound in the liver.
This process typically takes about an hour, at which point the effects of Modafinil are experienced. Adrafinil is legal to buy without a prescription in the United Kingdom and can be imported in small quantities for personal use.
The effects of Adrafinil are similar to the effects of Nuvigil. It produces a sense of being awake and alert mentally but without the body effects many stimulants produce. There are some differences, though, with regards to dosage and side effects.
Because Adrafinil is a prodrug, a larger dose is needed to achieve the beneficial results. Adrafinil is a good choice for those times when an alert mind and enhanced productivity and focus are required.
Continuous or frequent use is not recommended due to the possibility of the buildup of toxic liver enzymes which may occur with regular use. Adrafinil is available for purchase in bulk powder or capsule form. Capsules will usually cost 3x-4x more than bulk powder.
Another non-prescription nootropic option for people in the UK is one of the Racetam class of compounds. Based off of the parent compound Piracetam that was developed in Belgium in the 1960s, this class of compounds have been seen to positive affect the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine in the brain, leading to improved general cognition, learning ability, and memory.
The derivatives of Piracetam are all more potent than their parent compound, and typically have additional nootropic effects. Phenylpiracetam for example is considered 50-60 times as powerful as Piracetam, and has been noted to have strong mental energy boosting effects.
While the parent compound Piracetam is considered to be a prescription-only medication in the UK, the derivatives fall into a legal grey area.
Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam, and Phenylpiracetam do not appear on any drug schedules in the UK and do require a prescription. They have not been approved as drugs in the United Kingdom, and consequently are not available for sale at local chemists.
They are available from a large number of online nootropic stores though. Importation for personal use (normally a 1-3 month supply) are typically alright, although there have been some reports of seizures of goods at customs.
Side Effects
Nuvigil is considered generally well tolerated in adults when it is taken at doctor recommended dosages. Some common mild side effects have been reported though. The following are the most common minor side effects reported from pooled research trials and user reviews online:
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
- anxiety
- insomnia
- diarrhea
- depression
- dry mouth
- indigestions
- heart palpitations
As with most strong prescription medications, there is typically a short adjustment period when first taking a drug, while the body adjusts to the effects of the compound. Mild side effects in the first 2-3 weeks is normal, and typically subside.
If side effects do not subside in that time, then speak with your GP about trying a lower dosage. Some people’s personal physiology is more sensitive, and a lower dosage could help relieve side effects.
Insomnia is a commonly reported effect, however it is often not a true adverse reaction, but normally is simply caused by poor dosage timing. Nuvigil is a potent drug with a long half-life (13-15 hours) that can still have effects many hours after ingestion. It is recommended to take your dosage in the morning to avoid any sleep disturbances.
There is the possibility of developing a rare, but serious skin reaction while taking Nuvigil, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Strong evidence suggests that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition that makes them more susceptible to developing these conditions when they take certain medications, including Provigil and Nuvigil.
If you develop a spreading, blistering red/purple rash that is mainly near the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals, then stop taking Nuvigil and speak with your doctor immediately.
Summary
Nuvigil is available by prescription-only in the United Kingdom. Some other countries may allow it to be sold without a prescription, but when you import Nuvigil to the UK, you may run into problems at customs if you do not have the requisite paperwork attached to the shipment.
A non-prescription alternative is Adrafinil which is an earlier incarnation of the drug, Nuvigil. Adrafinil should be used only occasionally when it is needed for jet lag, increased wakefulness or enhanced productivity.
Another non-prescription alternative is using one of the Racetam family of compounds (except for the parent compound Piracetam, which is prescription only).
If you do decide to use Nuvigil, make sure to speak to your doctor to learn about the proper way to take this drug.
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Article last updated on: April 13th, 2018 by Nootriment