Teva launches generic Provigil to treat sleep disorders

Teva Pharmaceutical has launched the authorized generic of Provigil (modafinil), a drug marketed as a wakefulness-promoting agent used to treat sleep disorders, the company announced.

FDA said patients should be diagnosed by a physician with 1 of the following sleep disorders before taking Provigil: narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, or shift work sleep disorder.

The drug is not approved for children aged 16 or under.

Among the common side effects of Provigil, according to FDA, are chest pain, mental problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts, and severe skin rash and other allergic reactions.

Provigil is marketed in the United States by Cephalon, a division of Teva.