Armodafinil Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a medication that helps treat extreme daytime sleepiness from various health conditions, such as narcolepsy, shift work disorder, or sleep apnea. It’s a controlled substance, so it has a risk of dependence and misuse. But the risk is lower than other medications approved for narcolepsy, like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine / amphetamine (Adderall).

Here, we’ll cover common armodafinil dosages. The typical dosage depends on what you’re treating. But if what’s discussed is different from your healthcare provider’s recommendations, make sure to follow their instructions for how to take armodafinil.

What’s the typical armodafinil dosage for adults?

Armodafinil comes as an oral tablet. It’s available as:

• 50 mg

• 150 mg

• 200 mg

• 250 mg

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Armodafinil is usually taken once daily. The typical dosage depends on what you’re treating:

• Narcolepsy: 150 mg to 250 mg in the morning

• Sleep apnea: 150 mg to 250 mg in the morning

• Shift work disorder: 150 mg before the start of your work shift

Below, we’ll cover more details about armodafinil for each of these health conditions.

Good to know: Armodafinil isn’t approved for use in children. Neither is modafinil (Provigil) — a medication that’s closely related to armodafinil. But modafinil has been studied in children, and research shows it may be effective. Still, extra caution is always given to medication use in children. We won’t cover armodafinil dosages for children in this article.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder where you feel excessively sleepy in moments when you shouldn’t. Armodafinil is a first-choice medication for narcolepsy.

Armodafinil can last the whole day in your body. So taking it in the morning can help address any sleepiness that comes on throughout the day, even if it’s later in the afternoon. And taking it when you first wake up helps you avoid trouble sleeping at night. 

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where your airway or throat is blocked while you sleep, causing problems with breathing and disrupted sleep. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is considered a first-choice treatment for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine helps open your airways to improve your breathing while you sleep. If CPAP alone doesn’t work, or you can’t use CPAP, medications such as armodafinil may help improve excessive daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea.

If your healthcare provider recommends a CPAP machine along with armodafinil, make sure you use it every night for the number of hours your healthcare provider recommends. You should do this even if armodafinil is helping you. This will give you the best chance at effectively treating your sleep apnea.

Shift work disorder

Shift work disorder is a condition where the usual sleep-wake schedule is interrupted. It can happen to people who work overnight (or outside the working hours of 6AM to 7PM). In shift work disorder, you may find yourself excessively sleepy while you’re working. But you may also have trouble sleeping when you’re not at work.

Armodafinil can help you stay awake while you’re working at night. But to get the most benefit, you should take it just before your shift starts. This helps armodafinil have its greatest effect while you’re working, without impacting your ability to sleep during the day.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Possibly. If you have liver problems or you’re over 65, you may need a lower armodafinil dosage.

Dosage for people with liver problems 

Armodafinil is metabolized (broken down) in the liver. So if your liver isn’t working normally, armodafinil can build up in the body. This can cause an increase in side effects, such as headache, nausea, and skin rashes.

If you have severe liver damage, you may need a lower armodafinil dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best dose for you if you have liver problems.

Dosage for adults over 65

As you get older, your body experiences changes that impact how medications work. Your kidneys and liver may function differently, and it may be harder for your body to get rid of armodafinil. So if you’re over 65, you may need a lower armodafinil dose.

What happens if you miss a dose of armodafinil?

If you forget to take a dose of armodafinil, take it as soon as you remember — unless it’s already close to your bedtime. In that case, skip your missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule the following day. You don’t want to take armodafinil too close to your bedtime or it can keep you up throughout the night.

Never double up on armodafinil doses. This means don’t take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. This increases your risk of side effects.

What should you do if you take too much armodafinil?

Taking too much armodafinil has risks. Symptoms of taking too much armodafinil may include:

• Restlessness and anxiety

• Trouble sleeping

• Feeling disoriented and confused

• Feeling excited

• Hallucinations

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Abnormal heartbeat and chest pain

• High blood pressure

If you think you’ve taken too much armodafinil, call your healthcare provider or contact Poison Control for advice at 1-800-222-1222. If you have severe symptoms, seek emergency care or call 911.

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Written by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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