Modafinil

The Basics

What is Modafinil?

Used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or shift work sleep disorder.

Brand names for Modafinil

Provigil

How Modafinil is classified

Central Nervous System Stimulants, Wakefulness-Promoting Agents

Modafinil During Pregnancy

Modafinil pregnancy category

Category CNote 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 Modafinil while pregnant

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Two cases of intrauterinegrowth retardation and one case of spontaneous abortion have been reported in association witharmodafinil and modafinil. Although the pharmacology of modafinil and armodafinil is not identical to that of the sympathomimetic amines, they do share some pharmacologic propertieswith this class. Certain of these drugs have been associated with intrauterine growth retardationand spontaneous abortions. Whether the cases reported are drug-related is unknown.Modafinil should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential riskto the fetus.

Taking Modafinil While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Modafinil?

No information is available on the excretion of modafinil into breastmilk. The amount of the R-enantiomer of modafinil, armodafinil, in one nursing mother was very low. Minimal information from women who breastfed their infant’s while using modafinil found no adverse effects in the infants. Until more safety data are available, modafinil should be used with careful infant monitoring during breastfeeding, or an alternate drug may be preferred.

Maternal / infant drug levels

No information is available on the excretion of modafinil into breastmilk. The amount of the R-enantiomer of modafinil, armodafinil, in one nursing mother was very low. Minimal information from women who breastfed their infant’s while using modafinil found no adverse effects in the infants. Until more safety data are available, modafinil should be used with careful infant monitoring during breastfeeding, or an alternate drug may be preferred.

Possible effects of Modafinil 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 Modafinil

(Narcolepsy) Amphetamine, Armodafinil, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine, Methylphenidate.