Provigil is a prescription stimulant, a brand-name version of the drug Modafinil. Physicians prescribe Provigil for improving wakefulness for people experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness because of obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder. The drug has numerous side effects. Some are quite common, while others are rare but serious.
Most Common Side Effects
The Provigil official website and Drugs.com list percentages of specific side effects discovered in clinical trials with the drug. The two most common Provigil side effects are headache at 34 percent, and nausea at 11 percent.
Less Common Side Effects
Side effects which occur in about 4 to 7 percent of people taking Provigil are nervousness, dizziness, stuffy nose, indigestion, diarrhea, back pain, anxiety and insomnia.
Uncommon Side Effects
Less common side effects include dry mouth, loss of appetite, constipation and nosebleeds.
Rare Side Effects
Some other side effects are rare but potentially dangerous. These include chest pain, heart palpitations or tachycardia, high blood pressure, blood in the urine, and hallucinations. Provigil users with any of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Warning
The United States Food and Drug Administration added a warning to the product labeling after reports linked Provigil to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, a dangerous condition which begins with a simple rash. This rash can become so severe that skin peels off the body. Any Provigil user who develops any type of rash should stop using the drug and see their physician.
Tags: Common Side Effects, side effects, Side Effects, Side Effects