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Can Nuvigil cause withdrawal, tolerance, abuse or addiction?
This eugeroic smart drug is promoted as the best energy pill, with the ability to dramatically increase attention span and mental clarity.
Nuvigil is far stronger than other smart drugs in its category, and as such users may worry about greater risks of abuse, addiction, and withdrawal dangers.
One key to safety is good dosage habits, though other nootropic alternative supplements may be altogether safer in the long run.
Read on to find out about the positive effects of Nuvigil, and how to safely avoid risks and side effects.
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
Nuvigil is the latest iteration in a line of compounds that stretches back to the 1970s. In 1974, scientists at the pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories in France developed a series of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds, one of which was Adrafinil.
Adrafinil is the first in the line of eugeroic, or wakefulness promoting, compounds that led to Modafinil and Armodafinil (the compound that makes up Nuvigil). Testing to determine how Adrafinil works in the body led to the discovery of Modafinil.
Modafinil was found to the primary active compound in Adrafinil that causes its effects in the body. Both Adrafinil and Modafinil have stimulant-like effects, and were seen to cause increased locomotor activity and alertness in animal trials.
The first human trials on these drugs were to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Adrafinil was approved for this purpose in France in 1986, and Modafinil was approved in France in 1994, and in the US in 1998.
When it was possible to synthesize Modafinil directly, the need for the less potent Adrafinil decreased, and production was eventually ceased. While no longer made by the original company, it is once again made by various vendors today.
Lafon was purchased by the American pharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc in 2001. Cephalon continued to make the name brand version of Modafinil, Provigil.
When the exclusivity patents on Provigil were a few years from expiring, researchers at Cephalon began working on developing a more potent version of this compound. This led to the development of Armodafinil.
Modafinil, like many compounds, it comprised of two copies of the same molecular structure, known as stereoisomers. In the case of Modafinil, these isomers are identical mirror image copies of each other known as enantiomers.
Modafinil has an R- and an S- enantiomer form, and it considered a racemic compound because it contains both of these configurations in equal proportions. It has been determined though that the R-Modafinil enantiomer is the more active of the two pharmacologically, as well as being longer-lasting and more stable.
Armodafinil therefore is simply the R-enantiomer alone, without the S-isomer – hence the name Armodafinil, from R-Modafinil.
Cephalon was acquired in 2011 by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. To this day, Cephalon, as a subsidiary of Teva, still makes the popular name brand version of Modafinil, Provigil, as well as the original name brand version of Armodafinil, Nuvigil.
Nuvigil – Up to 2x Stronger than Provigil
To find out if Nuvigil can cause withdrawal, abuse or addiction, it’s helpful to look at similar drugs which already have a proven track record.
As described before, Nuvigil, also known as Armodafinil, is the latest version of Modafinil, the well-known cognitive enhancer which is also sold as the brand name Provigil.
Armodafinil is nearly identical to Modafinil at the molecular level, except it has been engineered as an enantiopure version that only contains the R-Modafinil enantiomer.
This distinction does not make it a weaker version of Modafinil – just the opposite. Enantiopures are known to be far stronger than their source compounds, and Armodafinil is no exception. It is effective at lower doses and may last a little longer.
Modafinil and Provigil are not considered of high abuse risk at all. While they promote wakefulness and attention span through the release of CNS Orexin and Histamine which trigger various neurochemicals, they do not trigger the extreme Dopamine spikes associated with addictive drugs like amphetamines.
Armodafinil’s relationship with dopamine however, may not be identical. While it is not a Dopamine receptor agonist, it does prevent the transport and reuptake of Dopamine in the brain, leading to higher levels of Dopamine overall. It does this by blocking the actions of certain Dopamine transporters at the synapses.
Perhaps because of its greater strength combined with the Dopamine enhancement, Nuvigil is considered more addictive than Provigil and should be used with caution for this reason.
Prescribed Nuvigil Uses
Nuvigil has been categorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States as a Schedule IV prescription drug. Like Provigil before it, Nuvigil is approved to treat serious sleep disorders. These include narcolepsy and shift-work sleep disorder. It is also used as an adjunct treatment to relieve the residual excessive daytime sleepiness experienced by some people with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
In many different double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials of Nuvigil on people with various sleep disorders, when compared to a placebo, Nuvigil has been seen to significantly improve wakefulness and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness (and sleepiness at night in shift-work sleep disorder patients).
In one trial using Nuvigil for narcolepsy, it was seen that patients given Nuvigil has significantly increased mean sleep latency times (the average time it takes to fall asleep) from baseline times as measured by the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test. Comparatively, patients in the placebo group in fact showed decreased mean sleep latency times compared to their baseline times.
One trial on shift-work sleep disorder had patients take either a placebo or Nuvigil between 30-60 minutes before a nighttime work shift, or a nighttime laboratory testing session. It was observed that the Nuvigil patients had significantly improved mean sleep latency times on the Multiple Sleep Latency test compared to placebo patients. Patient diaries also revealed that the Nuvigil patients reported significantly reduced sleepiness levels during nighttime work or lab shifts, and while commuting at night.
Even with proper treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (wearing a nCPAP machine at night to keep the airway open), some people still experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Nuvigil has been used in these cases to promote wakefulness.
In one study, it was observed that patients given Nuvigil had significantly increased mean sleep latency times on the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test compared to placebo patients, as well as improved scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Brief Fatigue Inventory test.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Off-Label Uses
Any use of a drug that is not one of its officially approved uses is technically considered an off-label use. The off-label use of drugs is very common, and Nuvigil is no exception. Users report having taken Nuvigil for off-label purposes including reducing fatigue, for ADHD, and for cognitive improvement.
Similarly to how it is used for increasing wakefulness in people with severe sleep disorders, some people take Provigil and Nuvigil for reducing fatigue associated with various diseases and conditions, including depression, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Nuvigil and Provigil have been used to help relieve the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The stimulant-like effects but lower side effect profile of these drugs have made them ideal substitutes for traditional amphetamine based stimulants that often have severe side effects.
There has not been much research done using Nuvigil specifically for ADHD, but the results from many Provigil studies can be reasonably extrapolated. In various double-blind placebo-controlled research studies, Provigil has been seen to significantly improve scores on many ADHD tests, including the Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale-IV, Conners Rating Scales, and the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist.
One of the most common off-label uses of Nuvigil is taking the compound as a smart drug to improve cognitive ability. Many users attest to the effects of Nuvigil for this purpose, saying that it can improve concentration, focus, motivation, learning ability, and memory.
There have not been any studies dedicated to looking at the cognitive effects of Nuvigil alone, but these effects have been examined in studies primarily focused on sleep disorders.
In one study on shift-work sleep disorder, patients given Nuvigil were seen to have improved scores on standardized tests of attention and memory from the Cognitive Drug Research battery of tests compared to placebo patients. Similar results were seen on tests given to patients with narcolepsy treated with Nuvigil.
Safe Dosages to Avoid Nuvigil Withdrawal or Dependency
As with all prescription medications, correct dosage is very important for avoiding side effects and risk of addiction. Can Nuvigil cause withdrawal, abuse or addiction? Not if you respect dosage recommendations.
For patients suffering from narcolepsy, the original intended use for the drug, doctors suggest taking one 250 mg pill per day, preferably in the morning. A dosage of 200 – 250 mg per day is appropriate for Shift Work Sleep Disorder, taken just prior to a work shift.
However, for nootropic use of the drug, dosages can be far lower. The typical dose taken to improve concentration and sharpen thoughts is around 100 – 150 mg per day. This dose can be further broken down into 3 parts, taken in early morning, at noon, and in the early afternoon.
For some people this dose may prove too stimulating, and a single 50 mg dose taken in the morning will be appropriate.
Increasing the dosage up over 250 mg per day will not increase effects. It only puts you at risk for more side effects, tolerance, and eventually dependency.
While Nuvigil does not produce the dopamine “rush” associated with amphetamines, the enhanced clarity of thought and concentration can become addictive to some people. There is no chemical withdrawal, but some users report feeling like their normal mental state without the drug is a letdown after many days of Nuvigil use. This can prompt over-use.
So, to avoid these risks, try to limit your Nuvigil doses to occasional use, only taking it when it is necessary, such as for the completion of a particular job or study project.
Why You Need A Prescription For Nuvigil
Nuvigil is a scheduled controlled substance, and therefore requires a prescription to be purchased in the U.S.
Though the withdrawal, abuse and addiction risks are considered low, the drug could be harmful if taken in massive quantities.
This is why Nuvigil is considered a Schedule 4 substance in the United States – which is a schedule reserved for drugs with lower abuse potential.
Furthermore, its effect on young children is not known. For these reasons, the FDA insists that Nuvigil only be prescribed to people suffering from clinical sleep disorders.
If you want to try Nuvigil simply as a cognitive enhancer or to help combat the symptoms of hyperactive mental disorders like ADD and ADHD, you will not be able to purchase the drug legally in the U.S. without a prescription.
Consumers are strongly urged to avoid patronizing international pharmacies, for their own protection. These offshore pharmaceutical websites do not guarantee quality or efficacy – in fact they cannot even guarantee the products they sell will reach the buyer.
These shipments are occasionally confiscated by U.S. Customs and Border officials when they do not exhibit legal prescription paperwork, resulting in enormous financial losses for consumers, not to mention potential criminal charges.
The penalties are perhaps so severe because officials fear Nuvigil can cause withdrawal, abuse or addiction, whether or not those fears are grounded in facts.
Nuvigil Side Effects
While experiencing Nuvigil withdrawal symptoms is not really something to worry about when it is taken as directed, there is the possibility of side effects. While generally well tolerated, there have been some mild side effects reported with Nuvigil use, including:
- headache
- nausea
- dizziness
- anxiety
- diarrhea
- indigestion
- depression
- dry mouth
- insomnia
- upper abdominal pain
It is common to experience some mild side effects when you first begin taking any new drugs. Your body needs time to adjust to the drug in your system, and some people experience side effects while this happens. These side effects typically pass in 2-3 weeks.
If you are still experiencing side effects after the initial adjustment period, then it is possible your dosage is too high and is causing the effects. Speak with your doctor about lowering your dosage to see if this helps relieve side effects.
Insomnia is a common complaint from Nuvugil users, however it typically is not a true adverse reaction. Rather, poor dosage timing is typically to blame. The half life of Nuvigil is quite long (approximately 13 hours), and the stimulating effects of the drug can still be active many hours after it is taken. To avoid sleep disturbances, take your Nuvigil dosage early in the morning to give the drug time to clear your system before you try and sleep at night.
There is a small possibility of developing one of a group of rare, but serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).
There is strong evidence that suggests some people have a genetic susceptibility to these conditions when they take some medications, including antibiotics, anesthetics, NSAIDS, and Nuvigil and Provigil.
Stop taking Nuvigil and speak with your doctor immediately if you develop a rash on or near your mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals that spreads and blisters.
Safer Alternatives to Nuvigil
There are some safe, legal alternatives to Nuvigil which are very attractive to most consumers. The recent rise in popularity of nootropics for cognitive enhancement has provided new avenues of mental therapy to a great many people.
These natural supplements work with brain chemistry to produce dramatic mood elevation and clear thinking – typically with few or very minor side effects and no risk of addiction whatsoever. One such compound, Adrafinil, is the pro-drug to Modafinil in the body.
This compound produces identical effects as Nuvigil, and is not known to carry any dependency risk. Legal to buy in the U.S., it’s definitely an option worth looking into.
Another nootropic option that some people uses as a non-prescription alternative is one of the Racetams. This family of compound that are based off of the first nootropic Piracetam, have positive effects on the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, causing improved mental fluidity, learning ability, and memory.
The derivatives of Piracetam, including Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Phenylpiracetam, and Pramiracetam, are all stronger and typically longer lasting than their parent compound Piracetam. They typically have additional effects as well; for example, Pramiracetam is specifically known for increasing mental energy levels for up to 8 hours.
Like Adrafinil, the Racetams are unregulated, unscheduled compounds in the US. While FDA laws restrict the sales of these sorts of compounds, it is fully legal to buy, own, and use them. They are available from a variety of online nootropic stores.
While Nuvigil may not be associated with withdrawal, abuse and addiction concerns, there may be legal issues relate to purchasing it if you do not have a prescription. Consider using one of the non-prescription Nuvigil alternatives described here to experience nootropic effects without the risk of buying from an international online pharmacy.
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Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment