Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Alertec (Modafinil). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Alertec (Modafinil) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Alertec (Modafinil). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• anxiety
• back pain
• Diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• nausea
• nervousness
• sleeping difficulties
• stuffy or runny nose
• upset stomach

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• increased blood pressure
• increased heart rate or palpitations
• agitation
• dizziness or fainting
• mood swings
• ongoing sleepiness
• signs of Depression (such as such as feeling sad, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, weight changes, changes in sleep habits, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, thoughts of self-harm)
• skin rash

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• chest pain
• signs of Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) (such as swelling of face, eyes, lips, tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hoarseness; chest tightness)
• signs of severe skin reaction (blistering rash with Fever, sores in mouth, peeling skin)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Alertec (Modafinil).

Each white, round, convex tablet, engraved with "100" on one side, contains Alertec (Modafinil) 100 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose, magnesium monosilicate, magnesium stearate, maize starch, polyvidone, sodium croscarmellose, and talc.

Do not take Alertec (Modafinil) if you:

• are allergic to Alertec (Modafinil) or any ingredients of the medication
• are in an agitated state
• have severe anxiety

There may be an interaction between Alertec (Modafinil) and any of the following:

• alcohol
• alpha blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Silodosin, Tamsulosin)
• Amiodarone
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• anti-cancer medications (e.g., Cabazitaxel, Docetaxel; Doxorubicin; Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Irinotecan, Vincristine)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Aripiprazole, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Quetiapine), Aprepitant
• Atomoxetine
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, Voriconazole)
• benzodiazepines (e.g., Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Lorazepam)
• birth control pills
• Bisoprolol
• Bosentan
• fast acting bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol, terbutaline)
• long acting bronchodilators (e.g., formoterol, salmeterol)
• Buprenorphine
• Buspirone
• caffeine
• Calcitriol
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• cannabis
• Carbamazepine
• chloroquine
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Dantrolene
• Dapsone
• decongestant cold medications (e.g., phenylephrine, Pseudoephedrine)
• decongestant eye drops and nose sprays (e.g., naphazoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline)
• Deferasirox
• Dexamethasone
• dipivefrin
• Disopyramide
• Enzalutamide
• Epinephrine
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• Everolimus
• Fentanyl
• "gliptin" Diabetes medications (e.g., Linagliptin, Saxagliptin, Sitagliptin)
• Guanfacine
• Hepatitis C antivirals (e.g., daclatasvir, dasabuvir, ledipasvir, paritaprevir, ombitasvir, sofosbuvir)
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase  inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Hydrocodone
• lidocaine
• Linezolid
• Losartan
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• maraviroc
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Methylphenidate
• mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Moclobemide
• Montelukast
• Nabilone
• nefazodone
• nitrates (e.g., isosorbide dinitrate,  isosorbide mononitrate)
• Ondansetron
• Oxcarbazepine
• Oxycodone
• Perampanel
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• praziquantel
• Primaquine
• primidone
• progestins (e.g., Dienogest, Levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, Norethindrone)
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib, Pazopanib)
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Lansoprazole, Omeprazole)
• quinidine
• quinine
• Repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• Rivaroxaban
• Romidepsin
• St. John's wort
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• Sildenafil
• siltuximab
• Sirolimus
• "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin)
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Tetracycline
• Theophylline (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, theophylline)
• Ticagrelor
• Ticlopidine
• Tocilizumab
• Tofacitinib
• Tolterodine
• Tolvaptan
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Imipramine)
• Trimethoprim
• Venlafaxine
• Zolpidem
• zonisamide
• Zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Alertec (Modafinil). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Alertec (Modafinil).

Birth Control: Birth control pills, patches and other forms of estrogen and estrogen/progestin birth control may be less effective when you are also taking Alertec (Modafinil). Alternative methods of birth control should be used while you are taking Alertec (Modafinil) and for at least 1 month after stopping treatment with Alertec (Modafinil).

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Some people experience ongoing drowsiness or dizziness while taking Alertec (Modafinil). It may also cause overconfidence and over-stimulation, causing poor judgement. Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform other hazardous tasks until you have determined how Alertec (Modafinil) affects you.

Heart disease: Alertec (Modafinil) may cause an irregular heartbeat or increased blood pressure. The safety of using Alertec (Modafinil) has not been established for  people with heart problems. If you have a heart condition or history of heart problems, discuss with your doctor how Alertec (Modafinil) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alertec (Modafinil), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Hypersensitivity syndrome: A severe allergic reaction called hypersensitivity syndrome has occurred for some people with the use of Alertec (Modafinil). Stop taking the medication and get immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including fever, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or flu-like symptoms with skin rash or blistering.

Liver function: People with severe liver disease should take lower doses of Alertec (Modafinil) because of an increased risk of accumulation of the medication in the body and side effects. If you have liver disease or decreased liver function, discuss with your doctor how Alertec (Modafinil) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alertec (Modafinil), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Mental illness: Alertec (Modafinil) may reactivate certain mental disorders or cause confusion and agitation. If you have a history of mental disorders such as depression, psychosis, or mania, discuss with your doctor how Alertec (Modafinil) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alertec (Modafinil), and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you experience symptoms of agitation, depression or hallucination, or notice them in a family member who is taking Alertec (Modafinil), contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will monitor you closely for these side effects while you are taking Alertec (Modafinil).

Normal fatigue states: Alertec (Modafinil) should not be used to treat normal fatigue states (e.g., fatigue due to lack of sleep rather than narcolepsy), as it can lead to overconfidence in abilities without actually increasing performance. This could make it more dangerous to perform certain activities.

Seizure disorder: If you have a seizure disorder or a history of seizures, discuss with your doctor how Alertec (Modafinil) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alertec (Modafinil), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Skin rash: Alertec (Modafinil) may cause skin rash. Rarely, people taking Alertec (Modafinil) experience a severe skin reaction that can be life-threatening. This usually occurs within the first 5 weeks of taking the medication, but it can develop at any time while you are taking Alertec (Modafinil). If you experience a rash that gets worse, or develops into blisters, sores on the lips or eyes or covers a large area of the body, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: Alertec (Modafinil) should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Alertec (Modafinil), contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Alertec (Modafinil) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Alertec (Modafinil), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: Serious reactions have been associated with the use of Alertec (Modafinil) by children. The risks and benefits of Alertec (Modafinil) have not been established for children. It is not recommended that children be given Alertec (Modafinil).

Seniors: Seniors may be more sensitive to the effects of Alertec (Modafinil). They should use lower starting doses.