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Is Provigil (modafinil) a controlled substance?

Medically reviewed by Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD. Last updated on May 28, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Yes, Provigil (modafinil) is a Schedule IV controlled substance classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA classifies controlled substances into one of five schedules based on factors such as the drug’s potential for abuse, risk to the public health, and risk of dependence.

Provigil is used to improve wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work disorder. In studies, Provigil was shown to produce psychoactive effects and has the potential for misuse or abuse. This means it could cause people to take higher doses than they are prescribed, use the medication for reasons other than why they were prescribed to take it, or engage in drug-seeking behavior.

If you have been prescribed Provigil, store it in a safe place that is locked. Do not sell Provigil to others, which is against the law and may cause them harm. If you stop taking Provigil, ask your local pharmacy about an upcoming DEA Take Back Day or local drop boxes where you can safely dispose of controlled substances.

References

Provilgil (modafinil) [package insert]. Revised Dec 2022. Cephalon, LLC. Accessed 05/28/2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e16c26ad-7bc2-d155-3a5d-da83ad6492c8

United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The Controlled Substances Act. Accessed 05/28/2024. Available from: https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/csa

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Yes, you can have narcolepsy and insomnia together. Almost 50% of people with narcolepsy also experience disturbed night-time sleep, fragmented sleep, or difficulty staying asleep at night. Sleep may be disrupted by insomnia, vivid dreaming, sleep apnea, acting out while dreaming, or periodic leg movements. Continue reading

One of the earliest signs of narcolepsy is suddenly falling asleep during the daytime, even if you have had a full night’s sleep. This excessive sleepiness is like a “sleep attack” or an overwhelming sense of sleepiness that comes on quickly, and narcolepsy should be considered if a child or teen habitually falls asleep in class, or an adult finds themselves constantly dozing off at work, despite having had a full nights sleep. In between these sleep attacks, people with narcolepsy have normal levels of alertness, particularly if they are doing something that keeps their attention. Narcolepsy most commonly starts in young adults, aged 15 to 25, although it can occur at any age. Continue reading

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