Armodfinil is usually advised to people who are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy or disorders related to sleep. In such conditions, they find it difficult to remain awake during day time. Armodfinil does not cure this condition, but as long as you continue taking the medication the condition stays under control. It helps you cope up with the drowsy feeling and reduces the sleepy effect. It also helps people who need to follow shift working hours by controlling their sleep pattern. You can also use it to treat the symptoms of tiredness. Armodafinil is known to work by secreting certain chemicals in the brain that controls the wake and sleep cycle.
The usage
Armodafinil is basically used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness. It is usually recommended to be taken orally, once a day in the morning. If you are taking it for improving your work shift sleep disorder, then always take it as per the direction of your doctor. Usually for treating this, you are advised to take one dose just one hour before you start the work shift. You can either take it along with your food or even without it, but usually this drug is known to work best when taken with your food. If you are taking it for treating sleep apnea, you can usually continue with the other medications you take, unless your physicain instructs to stop. So, apparently the dosage for treating each disorder is different but in order to reap the maximum benefit this drug should be taken reguarly. But sometimes, on taking Armodafinil for longer period, it may stop working. In such a case you should consult with your doctor immediately and get the dosage altereted.
How it works
Armodafinil which is an oral drug is normally used to promote the state of staying awake and is very similar to the drug Modafinil. It normally works by releasing more of dopamine in the brain and minimizes the absorption of dopamine into the nerves. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the form of chemical used by nerves to communicate with each other.
Precautions
When you are on this medication, get a regular checkup done to ensure that the medicine you are using for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness is working fine and not leading to any kind of unwanted side effects. It does not work for giving you enough sleep, hence you should never take it for sleep disorders other than narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder or sleep apnea. Apart from intake of the medicine, you should also follow good sleep habits as advised by your doctor. The drug Armodafinil can sometimes even lead to serious types of allergic reactions like angioedema, breathing problem, swelling of mouth, face, throat or hands, problem in swallowing, chills or fever, certain types of skin disorders like itching, rash, peeling, blister or any allergic reactions. In any such case, you should seek for immediate attention of your doctor. Instead of stopping the medication suddenly in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms your doctor, normally lowers the dosage to check such adverse effects.
