Provigil vs Nuvigil: Which Is Better for Daytime Sleepiness?
Provigil vs Nuvigil: Which Is Better for Daytime Sleepiness?
There are many possible causes of excessive daytime sleepiness, but some of the most common include narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Provigil and Nuvigil both are popular medications to manage daytime sleepiness but not many are aware of their nit-grits.
Daytime sleepiness is no joke. It’s a real condition that affects millions of people, and it can have serious side effects.
While both of these drugs have been shown to be effective in improving sleepiness, they work differently and are used for different conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between Nuvigil and Provigil so that you can choose the best drug for your needs. But first, let’s understand what is daytime sleepiness and its treatment.
Table Of Content
- What Is Daytime Sleepiness?
- What Is Provigil?
- What Is Nuvigil?
- Provigil & Nuvigi Uses
- Provigil & Nuvigi Side Effects
- Provigil Vs Nuvigil: Which Is Better For Daytime Sleepiness?
- Bottomline
What Is Daytime Sleepiness?
Daytime sleepiness is a common symptom that occurs when someone feels the need to nap during the day, even after having had enough sleep during the night. It can be a result of many different factors, including illness, stress, or even medication use.
Some people experience excessive daytime sleepiness as part of a condition called narcolepsy. This disorder causes sudden and uncontrollable bouts of sleep that can strike at any time and for no apparent reason.
While daytime sleepiness often comes with this condition, it does not always occur in people with narcolepsy. Other symptoms of narcolepsy include “sleep attacks” where an individual suddenly falls asleep without warning and loss of muscle control in response to intense emotions like laughter or stress.
There are also many other possible causes of daytime sleepiness that are not related to a medical condition. Some medications, including those that are used to treat depression and high blood pressure, can cause drowsiness during the day.
What Is Provigil?
Provigil is the branded version of modafinil prescription drug used to improve wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness. It is also known by its generic name, Modafinil.
What Is Nuvigil?
Nuvigil is a prescription medication based on Armodafinil that is approved to treat numerous sleep-related disorders. The R-enantiomer of modafinil prescription pill works by stimulating certain areas of the brain to allow for better quality and higher quantity of sleep.
Like Provigil, the armodafinil composition of the medicine can also help improve the daytime symptoms associated with these conditions. However, Nuvigil is slightly different in chemical structure and is often costlier than generic modafinil or Provigil.
Nuvigil works by affecting certain natural substances in the brain called “norepinephrine” and “dopamine” that helps to maintain wakefulness throughout the day.
Provigil & Nuvigil Uses
Provigil and Nuvigil were initially developed as a treatment for narcolepsy – a neurological disorder characterized by sudden “sleep attacks” during the day. However, due to their positive effects on wakefulness, both are also used to treat other conditions associated with excessive daytime sleepiness:
- Shift work sleep disorder, a sleep pattern disorder that occurs when a person works the night shift or rotating shifts and has difficulty sleeping during the day.
- Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, a sleep-related breathing disorder in which the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, resulting in snoring or interrupted breathing.
- Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Depression
- Post chemotherapy fatigue during cancer treatment.
Provigil & Nuvigil Side Effects
Nuvigil is a newer drug on the market that’s often used as a more effective alternative to generic modafinil or Provigil. Some people may have more severe side effects than others, and your specific body chemistry can also affect how you react to each drug.
The most common and well-known side effect of armodafinil is that it can cause dehydration and insomnia. You'll likely have trouble sleeping at the regular times of your night, which may lead to sleep deprivation.
As such, armodafinil has been shown to have fewer and less severe side effects than modafinil. While there are still some side effects that both drugs share, not all of these apply to everyone.
Provigil Vs Nuvigil: Which Is Better For Daytime Sleepiness?
Provigil and Nuvigil are the very first prescription drugs used to treat sleep disorders like narcolepsy, shift work disorder, and excessive daytime sleepiness. However, they both come with their pros and cons when it comes to using it for daytime sleepiness.
- Nuvigil is a newer drug that has been proven more effective in treating narcolepsy, however, it may not necessarily be the most effective for other conditions. Other drugs have been found to work better than Provigil for shift work disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Provigil or Nuvigil either could be the best for you depending on your specific condition, so it's important to have open communication with your doctor.
- Both Provigil and Nuvigil are similar in the way they work, as they both increase the amount of dopamine in the brain. This helps to promote wakefulness and keep you alert during the day, which is why many people use these drugs to treat their sleep disorders.
- While Provigil is an effective treatment for narcolepsy, it may not necessarily be the best drug to use for shift work disorder or excessive daytime sleepiness. For example, one study found that the drug armodafinil was shown to be more effective than Provigil at treating shift work disorder. In addition, another study found that a combination of Provigil and caffeine was more effective than Provigil alone at reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in people with multiple sclerosis.
Overall, it is important to discuss the benefits and risks of all potential treatment options with your doctor before deciding on which drug to use to treat your sleep disorder.
Bottomline
Excessive daytime sleepiness is a condition that occurs when someone feels very tired throughout the day, often to the point where it affects their ability to perform simple tasks and activities.
Excessive daytime sleepiness can occur in anyone, but it is most common among people with sleep disorders. If you find yourself feeling tired all the time and have trouble staying awake during the day, you may be suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness.
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