ArmodafinilBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: Nuvigil
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a prescription wakefulness-promoting agent approved for excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder. It is the longer-lasting R-enantiomer of modafinil, so a given milligram amount produces higher and more sustained afternoon blood levels.
Researched by DoseRoutine R&D TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSELast updated
One published human randomized trial; results not yet replicated.
Quick answer
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a prescription wakefulness-promoting agent approved for excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder. It is the longer-lasting R-enantiomer of modafinil, so a given milligram amount produces higher and more sustained afternoon blood levels. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance and carries a warning for serious rash including Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
- Brand name
- Nuvigil
- Relationship to modafinil
- The purified R-enantiomer — longer-acting half
- Approved for
- Narcolepsy, OSA-related sleepiness, shift work disorder
- Schedule
- DEA Schedule IV controlled substance
- Half-life
- Roughly 15 hours — higher late-day levels than modafinil
- Serious warning
- Rare severe rash (SJS/TEN); stop at first sign of rash
Compiled by DoseRoutine from public sources including NIH/MedlinePlus, the FDA label, Mayo Clinic and PubChem. Educational information, not medical advice.
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
- Reported amounts
- 150–250 mg once daily has been the studied and labeled dose range for excessive sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and shift-work disorder, as summarized in the cited pharmacology review[1][3]
- Frequency
- Once daily, typically in the morning or, for shift-work disorder, roughly an hour before the work shift[1][3]
Reported for Armodafinil in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the Armodafinil entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]ArmodafinilGarnock-Jones KP, Dhillon S, Scott LJ · CNS Drugs · 2009 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 19689169
- [2]Adjunct armodafinil improves wakefulness and memory in obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndromeHirshkowitz M, Black JE, Wesnes K, Niebler G, Arora S, Roth T · Respiratory Medicine · 2007 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 16908126
- [3]Armodafinil (Nuvigil) for wakefulnessThe Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics · 2010 · Reference database · PMID 20697340
How to track Armodafinil doses
Tracking Armodafinil well takes four fields and a habit. Here is what to record so the log is still useful in three months.
- 1
Add the dose and unit
Log Armodafinil with its dose in mg so totals stay comparable over time — including days when you split the dose or skip it.
- 2
Set the time of day and food rule
Typical timing is morning. Reminders fire at that time and can export to your calendar.
- 3
Check it against the rest of the stack
Run Armodafinil through the interaction checker against everything else in the routine — supplements, peptides, hormones and prescriptions — before it becomes a daily habit.
- 4
Log adherence, not intentions
Mark each dose taken, skipped or delayed as it happens. Weeks of honest logs are what make an adherence rate or a trend line meaningful; retrospective guessing is not.
- 5
Review against outcomes
With a reported half-life around 15 h, effects and timing shifts show up over days rather than instantly. Review Armodafinil alongside your logged metrics and any relevant blood work every few weeks before changing the dose.
What to log each time
- Dose in mg
- Time of day
- Taken / skipped / delayed
- Any side effects or notable changes
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Armodafinil dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Armodafinil?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What does the research say about Armodafinil?
Tap a section to expand.
Source for this section: Sources for How does Armodafinil work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Armodafinil?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What interacts with Armodafinil?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any supplement + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Some supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist. |
| Any vitamin + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Certain vitamins interact with specific medications (e.g., vitamin K with blood thinners).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed source; confirm with your provider. |
Frequently asked questions about Armodafinil
Which studies looked at Armodafinil?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Armodafinil(opens PubMed in a new tab)CNS Drugs · 2009 · PMID 19689169 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19689169/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 9690109(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9690109
Verify at
Publisher search links for Armodafinil. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- FDA-approved labeling (DailyMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- MedlinePlus(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Armodafinil?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a prescription wakefulness-promoting agent approved for excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder. It is the longer-lasting R-enantiomer of modafinil, so a given milligram amount produces higher and more sustained afternoon blood levels.
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Armodafinil — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/armodafinil
What compounds are similar to Armodafinil?
Others in the medication category or studied for the same goals.
