Important Safety Information
What is NUVIGIL?
NUVIGIL is a prescription medicine used to improve wakefulness in adults who experience excessive sleepiness (ES) due to one of the following diagnosed sleep disorders: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), shift work sleep disorder, or narcolepsy.
In patients with OSA, NUVIGIL is used along with other medical treatments for this sleep disorder. NUVIGIL is not a replacement for your current treatment. Consult your doctor about the importance of continuing your current OSA treatment while taking NUVIGIL.
NUVIGIL is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it has the potential to be abused or lead to dependence. Please use NUVIGIL only as directed and keep in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse.
What important information should I know about NUVIGIL?
- NUVIGIL may cause you to have a serious rash or a serious allergic reaction that may result in hospitalization or be life-threatening.
- If you develop a rash, hives, sores, swelling, or trouble swallowing or breathing, stop taking NUVIGIL and call your doctor right away or get emergency treatment.
Who should not take NUVIGIL?
- NUVIGIL has not been studied in children under the age of 17. NUVIGIL is not approved for children for any condition.
- Anyone who has had a rash or allergic reaction to NUVIGIL or PROVIGIL® (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV], or is allergic to any of the following ingredients: modafinil, armodafinil, croscarmellose sodium, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, or pregelatinized starch.
- Anyone with mitral valve prolapse who has experienced mitral valve prolapse syndrome.
What are possible side effects of NUVIGIL?
- Common side effects of NUVIGIL are headache, nausea, dizziness, and trouble sleeping.
- If you experience chest pain, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, psychosis, mania, thoughts of suicide, aggression, or other mental problems, stop taking NUVIGIL and call your doctor right away or get emergency treatment.
- For more information about other side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What should I avoid while taking NUVIGIL?
- Do not drive a car or do other dangerous activities until you and your doctor know how NUVIGIL affects you.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
What should I tell my doctor before starting NUVIGIL?
- Tell your doctor about all of your health conditions including if you have: history of mental health problems (including psychosis), heart problems or had a heart attack, high blood pressure, liver or kidney problems, a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction, or are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Women who use hormonal birth control may have a higher chance of getting pregnant, while taking NUVIGIL, and for one month after stopping. Talk to your doctor about other birth control methods while taking NUVIGIL.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, call 1-800-FDA-1088, or by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.
For more information, ask your doctor or call 1-800-896-5855.
This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your condition or treatment.
Please see the Medication Guide in the full prescribing information for NUVIGIL.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health Web site. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm. Accessed May 11, 2009.
- Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health Care Guideline: Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 6th ed. Bloomington, MN: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement; 2008.
- Weaver TE, Maislin G, Dinges DF, et al. Relationship between hours of CPAP use and achieving normal levels of sleepiness and daily functioning. Sleep. 2007;30(6):711-719.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual. 2nd ed. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2005.
- Carney PR, Berry RB, Geyer JD. Clinical Sleep Disorders. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005:255.
- Aldrich MS. Sleep Medicine. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.; 1999.
- Naughton MT. The link between obstructive sleep apnea and heart failure: underappreciated opportunity for treatment. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2006;3(4):183-188.
- Young T, Skatrud J, Peppard PE. Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. JAMA. 2004;291(16):2013-2016.
- Peppard PE, Szklo-Coxe M, Hla KM, Young T. Longitudinal association of sleep-related breathing disorder and depression. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(16):1709-1715.
- Young T, Evans L, Finn L, Palta M. Estimation of the clinically diagnosed proportion of sleep apnea syndrome in middle-aged men and women. Sleep. 1997;20(9):705-706.
- Epstein LJ, Kristo D, Strollo PJ Jr, et al. Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(3):263-276.
- Gross JB, Bachenberg KL, Benumof JL, et al. Practice guidelines for the perioperative management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Perioperative Management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology. 2006;104(5):1081-1093.
- Marshall NS, Wong KKH, Liu PY, Cullen SRJ, Knuiman MW, Grunstein RR. Sleep apnea as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality: the Busselton Health Study. Sleep. 2008;31(8):1079-1085.
- Chung F, Yegneswaran B, Liao P, et al. STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology. 2008;108(5):812-821.
- Reishtein JL, Pack AI, Maislin G, et al. Sleepiness and relationships in obstructive sleep apnea. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2006;27(3):319-330.
- Mulgrew AT, Ryan CF, Fleetham JA, et al. The impact of obstructive sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness on work limitation. Sleep Med. 2007;9(1):42-53.
- NUVIGIL [prescribing information]. Frazer, PA: Cephalon, Inc; 2010.
- IMS HEALTH National Prescription Audit Plus ™ (June 2009-September 2010).
NUV-2606 © January 2011 Cephalon, Inc.
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