A stimulant produced by Cephalon, Provigil is a brand-name version of the prescription medicine modafinil. While similar to amphetamines as far as brain stimulation, modafinil does not affect motor activity the way amphetamines do. Although it shows promise for treating several conditions, the United States Food and Drug Administration has so far only approved modafinil for treating excessive sleepiness from certain sleep disorders.
Sleep Apnea
Provigil is used for treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where part of the throat collapses continually during sleep, causing the person to slightly wake up numerous times. Provigil is only to be used in conjunction with other sleep apnea therapies.
Shift-Work Sleep Disorder
Physicians also prescribe Provigil for people with shift-work sleep disorder, or those who have trouble sleeping because they work varied shifts or work nights but are unable to stay asleep during the day.
Narcolepsy
Provigil is also prescribed for those who suffer from narcolepsy. People with narcolepsy experience overwhelming drowsiness, and may fall asleep suddenly at different times during the day.
Parkinson's Disease
A study published in "Clinical Neuropharmacology" in 2002 indicated that modafinil may be effective in reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in people with Parkinson's disease.
Other Disorders
Modafinil also shows promise for treating autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and clinical depression.
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