Nuvigil interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Nuvigil, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Nuvigil interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Nuvigil and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Nuvigil. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Nuvigil. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* To learn about Nuvigil’s side effects, see this article.
† For details about this interaction, see the “Drug interactions in depth” section below.

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Nuvigil due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Nuvigil include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Nuvigil or any of its ingredients

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to armodafinil (Nuvigil) or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Nuvigil. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. Also tell your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to modafinil (Provigil). Nuvigil and Provigil are similar drugs. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to one, you could have the same reaction to the other. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Nuvigil, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Nuvigil.

If you drink alcohol, your doctor will likely recommend not drinking it while taking Nuvigil. They’ll also usually advise you not to take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain alcohol. This is because the effects of consuming alcohol while taking Nuvigil aren’t known for certain.

Keep in mind that alcohol can also cause sleepiness. Nuvigil is prescribed for excessive sleepiness related to certain conditions. So consuming alcohol while taking Nuvigil can make it hard to tell whether the drug is working for your condition.

If you have concerns about avoiding alcohol while you’re taking Nuvigil, talk with your doctor before starting treatment.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Nuvigil.

Other stimulants

Nuvigil is a stimulant drug. Like Nuvigil, other stimulants are prescribed to treat excessive sleepiness related to narcolepsy. Other stimulants are also prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Interaction result: Taking Nuvigil with other stimulants can increase the risk of side effects from either drug. You can find details about Nuvigil’s side effects in this article.

Interaction explained: When taken individually, Nuvigil and other stimulants may cause serious side effects. Examples include heart-related problems, such as irregular heart rhythm and increased blood pressure. Taking these medications together further increases these risks.

Examples of stimulant drugs: Here are some other stimulants that may interact with Nuvigil:

• amphetamine (Adzenys XR-ODT)
• dextroamphetamine (Xelstrym, Dexedrine)
• lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before taking Nuvigil, be sure your doctor knows if you’re taking another stimulant. They aren’t likely to prescribe these medications together. Your doctor can tell you which stimulant may be best for your specific condition.

If you have questions about taking Nuvigil with other stimulants, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Hormonal birth control

Hormonal birth control medications are prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. They come in many forms, including oral tablets (birth control pills), patches, vaginal rings, and implants.

Interaction result: Taking Nuvigil with hormonal birth control could make the birth control less effective.

Interaction explained: Taking Nuvigil with hormonal birth control can cause your body to break down the medication more quickly than it should. This may lead to a low level of birth control medication in your system. And low levels could make the birth control less effective for preventing pregnancy.

Examples of hormonal birth control drugs: Here are some hormonal birth control drugs that may interact with Nuvigil:

• drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin, Yaz, others)
• medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, Provera)
• norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol (Xulane)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting Nuvigil, be sure your doctor knows if you’re taking hormonal birth control. They may recommend using a backup or nonhormonal form of birth control. Examples include using a condom, diaphragm, copper intrauterine device (Paragard), or vaginal gel (Phexxi).

Your doctor may also advise you to use nonhormonal birth control for at least 1 month after your last dose of Nuvigil.

If you have questions about taking Nuvigil with hormonal birth control, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Omeprazole

Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a proton pump inhibitor. It’s prescribed to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn.

Interaction result: Taking Nuvigil with omeprazole could increase the risk of side effects from omeprazole.

Interaction explained: Taking Nuvigil with omeprazole may cause your body to break down omeprazole more slowly than usual. This may lead to a high level of omeprazole in your body, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug.

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before taking Nuvigil with omeprazole, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

If your doctor prescribes them together, they may give you a lower dosage of omeprazole than usual. Doing so will help reduce your risk of side effects from the drug.

If you have questions about taking Nuvigil with omeprazole, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Nuvigil may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Nuvigil.

Nuvigil interactions with supplements

Nuvigil can interact with caffeine supplements and green tea supplements. Taking Nuvigil with these supplements may increase the risk of certain side effects from any of these products. Examples include nervousness and insomnia.

Because of this interaction, your doctor will likely recommend avoiding these supplements during Nuvigil treatment.

Before you start treatment with Nuvigil, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about supplement interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Nuvigil and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Nuvigil. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Nuvigil treatment.

Nuvigil and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Nuvigil. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Nuvigil.

Nuvigil interactions with food

Nuvigil may interact with caffeine. Consuming too much caffeine could increase the risk of side effects from Nuvigil and caffeine, such as insomnia. For information about Nuvigil’s side effects, see this article.

Below are a few foods and beverages that contain caffeine:

• chocolate
• green tea
• coffee
• energy drinks

Because of this interaction, your doctor will likely recommend limiting how much caffeine you consume during Nuvigil treatment.

If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Nuvigil, talk with your doctor.

Nuvigil and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Nuvigil and vaccines. You can talk with your doctor or pharmacist to check whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Nuvigil and lab tests

Nuvigil isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

NUVIGIL AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Nuvigil. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Nuvigil. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Nuvigil treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many U.S. states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Nuvigil. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Nuvigil may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Nuvigil include:

• Cardiovascular conditions: Before taking Nuvigil, tell your doctor if you have any cardiovascular conditions. Examples include high blood pressure and a past heart attack. The drug may cause heart-related side effects that could worsen your condition. Your doctor will recommend whether Nuvigil is the right treatment option. (You can read this article for information about Nuvigil’s side effects.)
• Liver conditions: If you have a liver condition, such as liver failure, tell your doctor before taking Nuvigil. They may give you a lower dosage of the drug. To learn about the dosage of Nuvigil, see this article.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to armodafinil (Nuvigil) or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Nuvigil. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better for you. For more information about this, see “When to avoid Nuvigil” above.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Nuvigil while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Nuvigil may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Nuvigil. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Nuvigil is safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause pregnancy loss or slow fetal growth. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Nuvigil. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.
• Mental health conditions: Before taking Nuvigil, tell your doctor if you have a mental health condition, such as psychosis or bipolar disorder. The drug may cause mental health side effects, including suicidal thoughts or behaviors, that may worsen these conditions. Your doctor can advise you on whether Nuvigil is the right treatment option.
• Substance use disorder: Nuvigil has a risk of misuse and dependence.* Having a current or past substance use disorder (SUD) may increase this risk. If you have an SUD or had one in the past, your doctor can tell you whether this drug is a safe treatment option.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Nuvigil. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Nuvigil label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Nuvigil doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Nuvigil by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Nuvigil. These resources might help:

• Overview of Nuvigil: For a general overview of Nuvigil, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Nuvigil, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Nuvigil prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Nuvigil, see this article.
• Drug comparison: For information about how Nuvigil compares with Provigil, read this article.
• Facts about your condition: To learn more about excessive sleepiness and sleep-related conditions, see our science of sleep hub.

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.