Australia is currently facing a 'silent crisis' of excessive daytime sleepiness ( EDS ), givingrise to serious social and economic consequences.Estimates suggest 10-15% of the Australian population experiences EDS, with a 2024survey declaring that 54% working Australians report to work exhausted and 90% admit it has impacted their productivity to a significant extent.Traditionally, psychostimulants like Amphetamine and Atomoxetine were used to deal with EDS, but they came with the risk of dependency and addiction.Enter Modvigil, a newer, safer alternative that promotes wakefulness without the addiction potential.Enjoying a Schedule 4 status, Modvigil, since its arrival in Australia, has emerged as a cost-effective treatment for decreasing fatigue and improving the QOL in narcolepsy and working-age stroke-survivors.
Modvigil is the generic counterpart of Modafinil, a novel psychostimulant with a low abuse potential used to treat narcolepsy and sleep deficits.Described as a ( 2-Diphenylmethy-Sulfinyl Acetamide ), Modvogil is one of the chiral sulfoxide-based drugs with two stereoisomers. It belongs to a class of eugeroic medications known for their wakefulness-promoting effect. Often confused with amphetamine-based conventional stimulants, Modvigil, in reality, has a different chemical structure and lower abuse potential.
Image Credit - Spectroscopic and structural investigations on Modafinil by FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR, UV–Vis and DFT methods - ScienceDirect.
While primarily designed to improve the cognitive, emotional and motivational functions of human neural systems, recent literature has found it to have defence effects in ischaemic injury, hypoxia and Parkinson’s.We can describe it as a CNS stimulant that, in addition to improving excessive daytime sleepiness, attenuates the attention and alertness levels of the individual.
It is important to have a brief understanding of GABA receptors to fully understand how Modvigil 200 works.Physiological functions like memory, focus and sleep-wake cycle are regulated by neurotransmitters ( chemical messengers that carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body ) and enable the brain to carry out its functions, alterations in the levels of which impact the CNS and give rise to a wide range of neurological disorders. GABA is one such neurotransmitter that is known for producing a calming effect and plays a super important role in controlling stress, anxiety and fear.
An important property of GABA ( Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ) is its role in the modulation of orexin neurons (specialised brain cells in the hypothalamus maintaining wakefulness,controlling motor activity, arousal and cognition ) and the lack of which can disrupt energy balance, mood, learning and precipitate narcolepsy symptoms.Modvigil influences the CNS by binding to the GABA neurotransmitters and targeting the orexin neurons, which release histamine and help in its wakefulness-promoting effects.
Image Credit - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S105435892300056X
Animal studies have demonstrated Modvigil to improve memory-related tasks, through improved cognition, planning ability, enhanced attention and working memory.Simply put, it sharpens focus, enhances memory and improves self-control along with problem-solving skills of the individual.
Some of the key benefits of Modvigil 200 are
Image Credit - https://integraleyemovementtherapy.wiki/types_of_memory
Here is the list of who can use Modvigil 200
Modvigil 200 has a Schedule 4 prescription status under the TGA. It cannot be bought, sold or imported without a valid prescription from a registered health care professional.While under the PBS, the subsidy is selected under certain terms and conditions. PBS for Modvigil is only applicable for Type 1 Narcolepsy with a confirmed diagnosis by a sleep physician and Type 2 Narcolepsy with excessive daytime sleepiness but without cataplexy. Modvigil is not PBS-subsidised for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Shift Work Sleep Disorder,and these conditions require a private prescription.
Here is a look at Modvigil dosage for these conditions
For Narcolepsy and Sleep Apnea
For narcolepsy and Sleep Apnea, Modvigil 200 is advised once a day, early in the morning,for adults. In children and people under 17, the dose is determined by the medical
practitioner.
For Shift Work Sleep Disorder
For SWD conditions, Modvigil 200 is advised once daily, an hour before their shift starts.Remember to take it at the same time every day and avoid caffeine or alcohol use with it.
Modvigil 200 is generally well-tolerated but, like all medications, can cause a range of side effects, ranging from mild to moderate to severe, if misused or overdosed.Headache, nausea and a decreased appetite are some of the common side effects associated with Modvigil use that occur in a small percentage of users and are gradually reversed. In a study conducted to evaluate the side effects associated with Modvigil use, headache occurred in 34% of users, while the incidence of nausea was 11%. 7% and 6% users reported diarrhea and back pain.
90% of the adverse reactions occurred in the first month of Modafinil use, and headache was the most commonly occurring event.The study concluded that most people using Modvigil have mild or moderate side effects.Even then, serious complications can occur requiring prompt medical attention.Rarely, Modvigil use can be associated with Stevens Johnson's Syndrome and other subcutaneous reactions, manifesting as blistering, peeling rash and flu-like symptoms.Allergic reactions to Modvigil and its ingredients can cause swelling of the face, tongue and throat that can lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing.If you notice persistent side effects with Modvigil use or sudden intensification of the problem, discontinue its use and get urgent medical attention
Here's a list of the precautions that you should be aware of with Modvigil use
Psychiatric Disorders:
Modvigil use can worsen anxiety and nervousness and, at times, result in aggressive symptoms. Individuals with a history of drug abuse should avoid the medication altogether or use it with extreme caution under the physician's guidance.
Cardiovascular Problems:
Modvigil use can worsen pre-existing heart conditions like ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac arrhythmias. It can even increase blood pressure, so people with high blood pressure or a history of mitral valve prolapse should avoid using it.
Pregnancy Complications:
Modvigil use can reduce the efficacy of your hormonal contraceptive, causing you to get pregnant.In pregnant and lactating mothers, Modvigil can give rise to low birthweight, fetal abnormalities and other complications.For safe use, pregnant women should avoid using Modvigil altogether.
Drug Interactions:
Modvigil can react with blood thinners like Warfarin and diminish their effectiveness.Combined use of Modvigil with antidepressants can increase blood pressure.Modvigil should not be used concomitantly with Amphetamine as it can increase the risk ofoverdose.
Overdose Symptoms:
Hallucinations, tremors, uncontrollable shaking and dizziness are some of the common overdose symptoms with Modvigil use. It can further cause irritability, nervousness,
confusion and suicidal thoughts.Get urgent medical help if you observe overdose symptoms with Modvigil use or call the local poison control centre.
EDS is not just about feeling tired- it is often the tip of the iceberg of underlying sleep disorders like narcolepsy and sleep apnea, and is more common in peri and post-
menopausal women and men with underlying cardiovascular and metabolic problems.Left untreated, it can affect productivity, job prospects, academic achievements and even progress to road accidents and other serious health consequences.
For Australians living with fatigue, Modvigil 200 represents a TGA-approved solution for getting your life back on track in an effective yet safe manner.Not only does Modvigil reduce excessive sleepiness, but it also offers neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects and repairs the damage that has been caused.If you are dealing with excessive fatigue and are unable to focus, contact your medical practitioner if you are eligible for Modvigil use and use it as per their guidance.
No FAQs available for this product.