Juvia Pharma Drug reference

A short educational article, not advice tailored to your own medicines. Read the disclaimer

Shift-work modafinil is taken about one hour before the shift

3 min readReviewed 31 October 2026. Updated
Night-shift clock and modafinil tablet on a dosing card

Key facts

SWD dose200 mg ~1 h before shift
Tablet on this site100 mg
Tmax2–4 h
FoodMay delay peak ~1 h
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nora Lindqvist, MD, Clinical pharmacology Peer reviewed

Checked against the current FDA label, named clinical trials, and the sources listed on this site.

01Narcolepsy dosing

Provigil for narcolepsy starts at 200 mg taken once a day in the morning. The dose may be 400 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. A 100 mg tablet may be used when a lower dose is needed. In most patients the dosing frequency is once per day. Provigil may be taken with or without food.

Sources and how this letter was sealed

  1. FDA, Provigil (modafinil) US PI: SWD 200 mg ~1 hour before shift; Tmax 2–4 h; food delay ~1 h.

Method in brief: open primary sources, annotate against the current FDA label, countersign by Dr. Nora Lindqvist, MD, then seal with a dated review. Full walk-through on the method page and editorial standards.

How to cite this page - Vancouver style

Juvia Pharma Drug Reference. Shift-work modafinil is taken about one hour before the shift [Internet]. Stockholm: Juvia Pharma; 21 October 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 21]. Available from: https://juviapharma.com/postscripts/provigil-shift-work/

Desk thread

Answers follow the U.S. Provigil prescribing information.

Idun Berg, Bodo writes

What is the starting dose for narcolepsy?

Desk reply

Provigil for narcolepsy starts at 200 mg taken once a day in the morning. The dose may be 400 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. A 100 mg tablet may be used when a lower dose is needed. In most patients the dosing frequency is once per day. Provigil may be taken with or without food.

Sami Virtanen, Pori writes

When is a 100 mg tablet used?

Desk reply

Provigil for narcolepsy starts at 200 mg taken once a day in the morning. The dose may be 400 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. A 100 mg tablet may be used when a lower dose is needed. In most patients the dosing frequency is once per day. Provigil may be taken with or without food.

Grethe Olsen, Tromso writes

Can Provigil be taken with food?

Desk reply

Provigil for narcolepsy starts at 200 mg taken once a day in the morning. The dose may be 400 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. A 100 mg tablet may be used when a lower dose is needed. In most patients the dosing frequency is once per day. Provigil may be taken with or without food.

Before you start, stop, or change any medicine mentioned above, run it past your prescriber or pharmacist - they hold your chart, this despatch does not. Desk notice.