The Basics
What is Armodafinil?
Used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or shift work sleep disorder.
Brand names for Armodafinil
Nuvigil
How Armodafinil is classified
Central Nervous System Stimulants, Wakefulness-Promoting Agents
Armodafinil During Pregnancy
Armodafinil pregnancy category
Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Armodafinil while pregnant
N/A
Taking Armodafinil While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Armodafinil?
Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of modafinil. The amount of armodafinil in one nursing mother was very low. Minimal information from women who breastfed their infant’s while using racemic modafinil found no adverse effects in their infants. Until more safety data are available, armodafinil should be used with careful infant monitoring during breastfeeding, or an alternate drug may be preferred.
Maternal / infant drug levels
Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of modafinil. The amount of armodafinil in one nursing mother was very low. Minimal information from women who breastfed their infant’s while using racemic modafinil found no adverse effects in their infants. Until more safety data are available, armodafinil should be used with careful infant monitoring during breastfeeding, or an alternate drug may be preferred.
Possible effects of Armodafinil on milk supply
A case control study comparing women with narcolepsy with cataplexy to a control group found that those with narcolepsy breastfed longer than those without the disease. The authors felt that the difference likely due to a lower employment rate among the women with narcolepsy.[2]
Possible alternatives to Armodafinil
(Narcolepsy) Amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine, Methylphenidate, Modafinil.
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. Aurora S, Aurora N, Datta P et al. Evaluating transfer of modafinil into human milk during lactation: A case report. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14:2087-9. PMID: 30518447
2. Calvo-Ferrandiz E, Peraita-Adrados R. Narcolepsy with cataplexy and pregnancy: A case-control study. J Sleep Res. 2018;27:268-72. PMID: 28568319
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
