Tag: Shift work disorder

Over 1 million people in the United States have narcolepsy, a condition for which Nuvigil (armodafinil) is commonly prescribed. This wakefulness-promoting agent is also used to address excessive sleepiness stemming from other debilitating sleep disorders.

Provigil is the brand name for the generic drug modafinil, which is the most direct equivalent. Beyond this, several other prescription medications act as wakefulness-promoting agents or stimulants, but they have different chemical structures, half-lives, and side effect profiles. The best option for an individual depends on their specific condition, medical history, and response to treatment.

For patients seeking the more affordable version of the brand-name drug Provigil, the key is understanding **what's the generic name for modafinil?**—the active ingredient in this wakefulness-promoting agent. The generic version, which is simply known as modafinil, offers the same therapeutic effects at a typically lower cost.

Pharmacologically, armodafinil (brand name Nuvigil) is the direct cousin of modafinil (brand name Provigil), as it is the purified R-enantiomer of the modafinil compound. While both are classified as wakefulness-promoting agents used to treat excessive sleepiness, their nuanced differences in chemical structure and metabolism lead to distinct effects. Understanding what is the cousin of modafinil involves examining this mirror-image relationship and its clinical implications.