Provigil (modafinil) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat excessive sleepiness in adults with any of the following conditions:

Provigil belongs to a class of drugs called stimulants. It comes as an oral tablet. Provigil is available as the generic drug modafinil.

For information about the dosage of Provigil, including its strength and how to take it, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Provigil, including information about its side effects, see this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Provigil provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Provigil, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Commonly recommended dosages for Provigil are described below. However, your doctor will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Provigil form

Provigil comes as oral tablets. You’ll take the tablets by swallowing them.

Provigil strengths

Provigil is available in two strengths:

  • 100 milligrams (mg)
  • 200 mg

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for narcolepsy or sleep apnea

The dosage of Provigil for narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea is the same. It’s 200 mg once per day. For these uses, take the drug either in the morning or upon waking for your day.

Dosage for shift work sleep disorder

The recommended dosage of Provigil for shift work sleep disorder is 200 mg once per day. For this use, take the drug about 1 hour before starting your work shift.

Long-term treatment

Provigil is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Provigil is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

You may wonder how dosing compares for Provigil and its generic version, modafinil.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Modafinil is the active drug in Provigil.

These medications have the same active drug, and they come in the same form. So, brand-name Provigil and generic modafinil have the same recommended dosages.

For information about modafinil dosing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To learn more about Provigil dosing, see the “Provigil dosage” section above.

Below are some common questions related to Provigil’s dosage.

Is there a 400-mg dose of Provigil?

Provigil dosages up to 400 milligrams (mg) once per day may be used. Some clinical trials have shown that people tolerate this dose well. However, the trials haven’t shown that this higher dosage works better than the recommended dosage of 200 mg once per day.

If you don’t feel that your current Provigil dosage is working as well as it should, talk with your doctor. Ask about all possible treatment options, including whether a higher dosage of Provigil might work for you.

Can Provigil be used for ADHD or to help with studying? If so, what is the dosage?

Provigil isn’t approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or to help with studying.

However, doctors may prescribe Provigil off-label for treating ADHD. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a condition other than its approved uses. If you’d like to know about options for treating ADHD, ask your doctor.

You should not take medications for the purpose of helping improve study, unless you have a medical condition that impacts your ability to focus, concentrate, or learn. Some people may have a health condition, such as ADHD, that affects their ability to study. In this case, a healthcare professional can discuss appropriate treatments. If you need help to improve studying, talk with a school counselor or another professional.

The Provigil dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include your age and liver function.

Dosage adjustments

Doctors may lower Provigil dosages in people with severe liver disease or those ages 65 years or older. Talk with your doctor if either of these factors affects you.

Provigil comes as an oral tablet. You’ll take it by swallowing it, and you can take doses with or without food. However, if you take Provigil with food, it may take a little longer than usual for the drug to start working.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take Provigil for narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea, you’ll take the drug in the morning or upon waking for your day. If you take Provigil for shift work sleep disorder, you’ll take it about 1 hour before you start your work shift. Because Provigil can keep you awake, taking it too close to bedtime may make it hard for you to sleep.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Provigil in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Provigil, take it as soon as you remember. However, keep in mind that Provigil can make it hard to sleep. So, if you miss a dose in the morning or within a few hours after you first wake up, skip the missed dose. Then, take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

If you need help deciding whether or not to take a missed dose, call your doctor or pharmacist.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Provigil carries a risk of misuse. With misuse, a drug is taken differently from how a doctor prescribes it.

Although it isn’t common, Provigil can lead to misuse because it changes the way people feel. In some cases, it causes euphoria, which is often described as feeling “high.”

The risk of misuse is higher in people who’ve had drug or alcohol misuse in the past.

Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this risk or would like to know more about it.

It’s possible for Provigil to cause dependence. With dependence, a person needs a drug to feel like usual, either mentally or physically. The risk of dependence with Provigil is thought to be low.

Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can occur if a person stops taking a drug they’re dependent upon.

In clinical trials, withdrawal symptoms were not reported in people stopping the drug. In some cases, symptoms treated by Provigil may return if you stop taking the drug. However, this is different from withdrawal symptoms.

Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this risk or would like to know more about it.

If you take more Provigil than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects. It’s important that you do not take more Provigil than your doctor advises.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Provigil can include:

If you take more than the recommended amount of Provigil

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Provigil. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Provigil for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Provigil without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Provigil that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Provigil. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Provigil. For information about other aspects of Provigil, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To find out how Provigil compares with Nuvigil, read this article.
  • Side effects of Provigil. To learn about possible side effects of Provigil, view this article.
  • Details about excessive sleepiness. For details about excessive sleepiness, see our the 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.