Common Side Effects of Armodafinil
Armodafinil has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common side effects of armodafinil included:
- Headaches -- in up to 23 percent of people
- Nausea -- up to 9 percent
- Dry mouth -- up to 7 percent
- Insomnia -- up to 6 percent
- Dizziness -- up to 5 percent.
Other common side effects, occurring in 1 to 4 percent of people, included:
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Upper abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Loose stools
- Fatigue
- Thirst
- Flu-like symptoms (such as fever and chills)
- Loss of appetite
- Shakiness (tremor)
- Migraines
- Unusual sensations, such as numbness or tingling
- Nervousness
- Increased urination
- Increased sweating.
Like many other medications, armodafinil can cause a rare, extremely dangerous side effect called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). This problem starts out as a rash, but it can soon become life-threatening, sometimes resulting in the loss of large segments of skin (which can lead to disfigurement or even death). Therefore, tell your healthcare provider immediately if you develop an unexplained rash while taking the drug. In almost all cases, armodafinil should be stopped, since it is impossible to tell if any particular rash will become dangerous. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider immediately, you should stop taking armodafinil until you receive further instructions.
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