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Are Nuvigil weight loss claims valid?
This drug was originally developed as a non-amphetamine based wakefulness aid for people who had trouble maintaining normal sleep cycles, such as narcoleptics.
But the effects of this drug were discovered to offer a wider range of benefits than the initial prescribing information suggested.
Not only could it create very sharp concentration, Nuvigil also seemed to promote weight loss and fat burning.
Let’s take a look at how weight loss and Nuvigil are connected, how it is generally used and any side effects to watch out for.
Energy
Cognition
Motivation- Wakefulness-boosting stimulant
- Enhances motivation and focus
- Shown to boost mental performance
Nuvigil History
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 weight loss effects were never intended in the original design of the drug. Instead, Nuvigil is the latest in a line of wakefulness promoting compounds that stretches back to the 1970s.
Adrafinil is one of a group of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that was developed in 1974 by scientists at the French pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories. During testing to determine the mechanism of action of this compound, Modafinil was discovered.
It was found that Adrafinil after being ingested is transported to and broken down in the liver into its component parts, with Modafinil being the primary active compound.
Adrafinil and Modafinil are eugeriocs, or wakefulness promoting compounds. They were seen to have stimulant-like effects and promote increased locomotor activity in animal studies.
The first human use trials used these compounds to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Adrafinil was approved for this use in France in 1986. Modafinil was approved in France in 1994, and in the US in 1998.
Other approved uses of Provigil now include other serious sleep disorders, specifically obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome and shift-work sleep disorder. In some countries, it is also approved to treat idiopathic hypersomnia, which is similar to narcolepsy, but often less severe.
When it was possible to produce Modafinil directly, the need for Adrafinil decreased. The original company ceased production, however it is now again produced by other manufacturers.
In 2001, Lafon Laboratories was bought by Cephalon Inc, an American pharmaceutical company. Cephalon continued to produce, Provigil, the brand name version of Modafinil developed by Lafon.
Provigil was patented for its original uses, and then a few years before the patent was due to run out 10 years later, the same chemists began working on creating a new, refined form of the drug to help maintain their market share.
Modafinil is comprised of two mirror image stereoisomers known as enantiomers. These compounds with the same, but mirrored molecular structure are known as R-Modafinil and S-Modafinil.
It has been determined that the R-enantiomer is the more active and stable of the two isomers. Therefore to make the new version of Modafinil, the scientists isolated the R-enantiomer alone, removing the S-enantiomer. This new, purer iteration was named Armodafinil, so named for only containing R-Modafinil.
In 2011, Cephalon was acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Acting as a subsidiary of its parent company Teva, Cephalon still produces the original name brand versions of Modafinil and Armodafinil, Provigil and Nuvigil, respectively.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Nuvigil Weight Loss and Appetite
Known to be a stronger version of similar drug Provigil, Nuvigil has remained popular as a wakefulness aid, and use for the same sleep disorders Provigil is used for are its only approved uses. However, soon after being approved by the FDA in 2007, users began to note that the drug had several off-label benefits of great interest.
By engineering a eugeroic drug (any “arousal” drug which generates a feeling of wakefulness), the scientists inadvertently also created a powerful nootropic capable of significantly boosting cognitive functions like concentration and the ability to resist mental distraction. These effects were first seen with Nuviigl’s predecessor Provigil.
Along with these mental effects, it was noticed that Nuvigil seemed to cause weight loss for users who added it to dieting and exercise.
Nuvigil’s mental and weight loss effects are thought to be caused by simulated stimulation of dopamine receptors. While Nuvigil itself is not a dopamine agonist, it can inhibit the re-uptake of Dopamine in the brain, helping to maintain levels of the critical neurotransmitter.
Additionally, there is evidence the Provigil and Nuvigil affect levels of the neuropeptide Orexin and neurotransmitter Histamine in the hypothalamus. Both of these compounds have effects on wakefulness, arousal, and appetite control.
These effects not only aid in wakefulness and focus, they can increase metabolism and curb appetite. Nuvigil weight loss is believed to occur as a result of this lowered appetite, especially when incorporated into a regimen with weight lifting and exercise.
The following are some reviews written by users who have experienced appetite suppression or weight loss effects from Nuvigil, whether on purpose or as a side effect from normal use:
“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]
“I take the pill around 7am. It is 200mg but I cut them in half for about 2 weeks to ween to full dose. This is my 3rd day on full dose. It does curb your appetite, and it dose clean your system out so when starting be close to a bathroom. And make sure you drink a lot of water or you will get a bad headache. The plus is it helps weightloss” – Anonymous [2]
“I have not had any adverse side effects on the nuvigil except for fact that I start to lose weight immediately it wipes out my appetite I do make sure to keep hydrated I like it . because other than that my other .alternative is I would be tracking from never hitting that one cycle. I have never experienced adverse side effects from the medication for very safe taking it. ” – Anonymous [2]
Nuvigil Side Effects
As with any dieting aid, it is possible to overdo it when taking Nuvigil for weight loss. The combined effects of appetite suppression and heightened concentration can result in forgetting to eat, or eating too little while taking the drug.
While using Nuvigil to help cut back on excessive eating may be beneficial, the body will eventually become run down from lack of nutrition, making basic processes like metabolizing drug compounds more lengthy and difficult. This in turn can lead to increased side effects from those drugs.
In the case of Nuvigil, not eating properly while taking daily doses of the drug could lead to increased headaches, an overly acidic stomach, an overactive metabolism, and improper digestion. Muscle bruising and tearing, especially from heavy exercise, might take longer to heal without adequate fluids and proteins.
So, care should be taken during any Nuvigil weight loss program to continue eating healthy, balanced meals, three times a day. Keeping well hydrated while taking Nuvigil is also important.
Some common side effects that have been reported with Nuvigil that do not related directly to its weight loss effects include:
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- anxiety
- diarrhea
- indigestion
- depression
- insomnia
When first taking any new strong medications, there is a chance for side effects while the body goes through an adjustment period. Having mild side effects for the first few weeks of taking Nuvigil is entirely normal, and they should subside as the body adjusts to the drug.
If side effects do not get better after two to three weeks, then speak with your doctor. They may want to have you try taking a lower dosage and see if the side effects get better. Some people are more sensitive then others, and a lower dosage then typically recommended may work better for their needs.
One effect that is commonly reported is insomnia. This is not typically a true adverse reaction to the drug, but rather an effect caused by poor timing of dosages. Because of Nuvigil’s long half-life (12-15 hours), the effects are still present in the body long after it is taken, which can cause sleep disturbances. It is recommended to take your dosage in the morning to allow effects to diminish before trying to sleep.
While very rare, there is a chance of developing one of series of skin and mucous membrane reactions while taking Nuvigil, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. This condition causes a fever, flu-like symptoms, and a spreading rash that blisters and is located primarily near the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals.
There has been strong evidence put forward suggesting that some people have a genetic predisposition to developing these skin reactions when they take certain medications, including Nuvigil. If you believe you are having a reaction to Nuvigil, then stop taking the medication and speak with your doctor immediately.
Is Nuvigil Legal To Buy Without Prescription?
Due to Nuvigil weight loss effects, it’s common to see this compound discussed on body building forums.
While the use of Nuvigil for dieting may be completely valid, the readers of these sites cannot actually legally try the drug. One needs a prescription to purchase Nuvigil, which is typically only attainable in cases of serious sleep disorders.
Often, you might see advertising links on fitness pages which direct consumers to offshore pharmacy websites. While it is technically legal to purchase drugs like Nuvigil from these foreign sites without a prescription, the legality gets hazy once you attempt to ship your order back to the U.S.
For example, it may be legal for a website in Mexico or India to sell you a drug without a prescription, but that does not mean it is legal for you to buy it as a resident of another country.
If you live in a country such as the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA or any number of other states that consider Nuvigil to be a controlled substance, importing the drug back to where you live may be considered illegal.
Customs agents can and will seize any controlled substances which don’t have proof of prescription. Consumers lose their money, they don’t get their medication, and furthermore they may be added to DEA watch lists for narcotics trade.
Additionally, if you do in fact receive your products, there is no way to know the safety of these products from online international pharmacies. There are normally no good manufacturing practice protocols in place in the factories that make these products, and no certificates of analysis to confirm that there are no contaminants.
These penalties may seem stiff for athletes or dieters who simply wish to lose weight, but the laws in place currently do not allow for this use of Nuvigil. Because of this, and the health risks inherent when you buy Nuvigil online from these sorts of sites, many people will use alternative weight loss options to get the results they want.
Non-Prescription Weight Loss Alternatives
One common alternative to Nuvigil is its predecessor, Adrafinil. As described above, Adrafinil was the first eugeroic compound discovered in the 1970s. It breaks down into Modafinil in the liver.
After this initial conversion process, the effects of Adrafinil are said to be similar to Modafinil and Armodafinil.
Adrafinil is an unscheduled, unregulated compound that is legal to own and use in many countries (except for Australia, where it is a prescription drug). It is available from a variety of specialized online nootropic stores.
Some other supplements that people use to lose weight include:
- Fat Burners such as Forskolin, Acetyl L-Carnitine, and Green Coffee Bean Extract
- Appetite Suppressants like 5-HTP and Tryptophan
- Metabolism Boosters such as White Kidney Bean Extract and African Mango Extract
Many of these compounds are available from local pharmacies and health stores like GNC, and all of them are available online from specialized supplement sites, as well as large vendors like Amazon.
Consider researching and using one of these weight loss supplements instead of taking Nuvigil without a prescription for weight loss.
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- User Reviews for Nuvigil, Drugs.com
- Drug Ratings for Nuvigil, AskAPatient.com
- Darwish M, Bond M, Hellriegel ET, Youakim JM, Yang R, Robertson P Jr. Investigation of a possible interaction between quetiapine and armodafinil in patients with schizophrenia: an open-label, multiple-dose study. J Clin Pharmacol. 2012
- Calabrese JR, Frye MA, Yang R, Ketter TA; Armodafinil Treatment Trial Study Network. Efficacy and safety of adjunctive armodafinil in adults with major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014
- Harsh JR, Hayduk R, Rosenberg R, Wesnes KA, Walsh JK, Arora S, Niebler GE, Roth T. The efficacy and safety of armodafinil as treatment for adults with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006
- Conrado DJ, Bewernitz M, Ding M, Cibula J, Seubert C, Sy SK, Eisenschenk S, Derendorf H. Electroencephalogram effects of armodafinil: comparison with behavioral alertness. J Clin Pharmacol. 2013
- Wang W, Xiang S, Zhou X, Ji Y, Xiang B. Enantiomeric separation and determination of the enantiomeric impurity of armodafinil by capillary electrophoresis with sulfobutyl ether-?-cyclodextrin as chiral selector. Molecules. 2011
Article last updated on: April 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
Today is my first day taking Nuvigil. While it’s definitely making me more alert, that seems to be counteracted by this headache that won’t go away. It’s not a bad headache, but, despite having taken Ibuprofin, it remains, annoying me. I’ve been keeping close track of my heart rate because I was feeing a bit jittery. My normal heart rate is around 60 and though there was one spike of 70, it remains thus far in the 60-66 bpm range. True to what I’ve read, I have much less appetite for food today, which I don’t consider a bad thing, at 5’7″ and 197lbs.
Again, today is just day one, so we’ll see.