As with other drugs, Provigil (modafinil) can cause side effects, such as headache, nausea, and nervousness. If you are unable to tolerate side effects from Provigil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Provigil is a brand-name drug that treats excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea.

If you have problems with side effects from Provigil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop taking Provigil without consulting your doctor first.

For a general overview of Provigil, including details about its uses and dosage, see this Provigil overview.

Provigil can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Provigil in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Provigil. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Provigil’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Provigil include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Provigil and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

Provigil may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Provigil’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Provigil, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Provigil may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Does Provigil cause teeth-related side effects?

No. There are no reported side effects related to the teeth with Provigil. However, people have reported dry mouth with Provigil. A dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. But there were no reports of these specific problems with Provigil.

Be sure to discuss any teeth problems with your dentist, drink plenty of fluids, and take care of your oral health during Provigil treatment.

Is weight loss or weight gain a side effect of Provigil?

Provigil can cause decreased appetite. Because of this side effect, some people may lose weight while taking Provigil. However, Provigil is not approved for weight loss. And weight loss was rare in clinical trials.

You should not expect to gain weight with Provigil treatment. Weight gain was not a side effect reported in clinical trials of Provigil.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about weight management while taking Provigil.

What are the long-term side effects of Provigil?

Long-term treatment with Provigil may increase your risk of developing psychological and physical dependence. (With dependence, your body needs a drug to feel how you typically would.) However, this side effect was rare in clinical trials. You may have an increased risk of this side effect if you’ve misused drugs or alcohol in the past.

If you have questions or concerns about drug dependence while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Provigil affect libido?

Provigil was not found to affect libido or cause sexual side effects such as premature ejaculation. There were no reports of this side effect in clinical trials of Provigil.

If you’re taking Provigil and experiencing sexual side effects that are concerning, talk with your doctor.

How do side effects of Provigil and its generic version, modafinil, compare?

Provigil and modafinil are expected to have similar side effects. This is because modafinil is the generic form of Provigil. Your doctor may recommend switching from Provigil to modafinil based on cost or your insurance coverage. In most cases, generics cost less than brand-name versions.

Common side effects of both drugs include:

If you have questions about the side effects of Provigil and modafinil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Also, talk with them if you are interested in switching from Provigil to modafinil.

Can Provigil cause hair loss?

No, it’s not likely. Hair loss was not a reported side effect in clinical trials of Provigil.

If you experience hair loss or hair thinning while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor. They may recommend an over-the-counter treatment such as Rogaine (minoxidil) for your hair loss.

Is memory loss a side effect of Provigil?

Memory loss was not reported in Provigil’s clinical trials. However, people with narcolepsy may have problems with memory due to changes in their sleep patterns.

Talk with your doctor if you notice problems with your memory while taking Provigil.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Provigil may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Provigil.

Headache

In clinical trials of Provigil, headache was a common side effect. People who took higher doses of Provigil were more likely to have headaches than people who took lower doses. For example, people who took 400 milligrams (mg) of Provigil per day reported more headaches than people who took 200 mg of Provigil per day.

What you can do

If you experience headaches while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor. They may recommend certain medications to treat your headaches while your body adjusts to Provigil. For example, they may suggest taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen). Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it’s safe for you to take these medications with Provigil.

Other ways to help relieve headaches include staying hydrated, applying heat or ice packs to your head, and eating balanced, nutritious meals regularly.

Nausea

Nausea was a common side effect reported in Provigil’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you have nausea while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor. They may suggest ways to manage it, including:

  • eating small, bland meals
  • avoiding greasy, fried foods
  • drinking clear, cold beverages
  • avoiding exercise after eating

Dry mouth

In clinical trials, dry mouth was a common side effect of Provigil.

What you can do

Some tips that may help with dry mouth include sipping small amounts of water throughout the day, using a humidifier, and avoiding caffeine or alcohol.

Talk with your doctor if you have dry mouth that becomes bothersome while taking Provigil. They may recommend other tips or medications to help with this side effect.

Mental health-related side effects

In clinical trials of Provigil, mental health-related side effects were rarely reported. Mental health-related side effects can include:

Although rare, some people taking Provigil have reported thoughts of suicide, symptoms of psychosis, and mania. These symptoms are more likely to occur in people who have had a history of mental health problems.

What you can do

If you notice any changes in your thoughts or mood while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor. Be sure to tell them if you’ve had any problems with your mental health in the past. They may recommend a different dosage or decide that Provigil is not the best treatment option for your condition.

To learn more about mental health, refer to our mental health hub.

Heart-related side effects

Some people experienced heart-related side effects in clinical trials of Provigil, but these side effects were rare.

Heart-related side effects may be more likely to happen in people who have a history of heart problems. These side effects can include:

What you can do

Talk with your doctor about any heart-related problems, including high blood pressure. They may recommend a different treatment option for your condition. If you take Provigil and notice any of the symptoms listed above, tell your doctor right away.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Provigil can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Provigil. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Provigil. This drug may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These are known as drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Mental health-related conditions: If you’ve had depression, psychosis, or mania in the past, Provigil may increase your risk of these conditions. Talk with your doctor if you have a history of mental health-related conditions. They may monitor you more closely for the development or worsening of mental health-related conditions. Or they may recommend a treatment other than Provigil for your condition.

If you develop symptoms of a mental health-related condition, your doctor will likely recommend stopping Provigil. They will also likely recommend another medication to treat your medical condition. For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Heart-related effects: If you have certain heart conditions or high blood pressure, Provigil may make these problems worse. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any heart-related conditions before starting treatment with Provigil. They will likely recommend more frequent monitoring to assess for heart-related effects. These may include heart rate or blood pressure. For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Driving and operating machinery: Like other medications, Provigil may affect your judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how Provigil will affect you.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Provigil or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Provigil. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol with Provigil

You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Provigil. The effects of consuming alcohol during Provigil treatment were not studied in clinical trials.

Because alcohol can make you sleepy or feel tired, it’s not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Provigil. Consuming alcohol with Provigil can decrease how the drug works and Provigil is typically prescribed to help you feel less sleepy and tired.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Provigil, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether it’s safe for you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Provigil

It’s not known for sure whether it’s safe to take Provigil during pregnancy. This is because there haven’t been enough clinical trials done in humans to determine what effects the drug might have on a pregnancy.

In animal studies, Provigil caused fetal harm. However, it’s important to note animal studies do not always indicate what may happen in humans.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about whether taking Provigil is safe for you.

It’s not known whether Provigil passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who is breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether breastfeeding while taking Provigil is safe for your child.

Provigil may cause changes in your mood, such as feelings of euphoria (intense happiness or excitement). For this reason, some people may misuse Provigil. (Misuse refers to taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it.) This may be more likely to happen in people who have a history of drug or alcohol misuse.

Provigil is a controlled substance due to the risk of misuse. There are strict regulations for how doctors and pharmacists prescribe and dispense controlled medications. For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You should only take the Provigil dosage that your doctor prescribes for you. If you have a history of drug misuse, talk with your doctor. They will closely monitor you during treatment with Provigil.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.