The Generic Name for Provigil Is Modafinil

Written by Dr. Marcus Bennett · Medically reviewed by Dr. Elena Marquez, MD · Fact-checked October 2026 · How we review

If you've been handed a bottle that says "modafinil" when your prescription said Provigil, or you're comparing prices online and see a dozen names you don't recognize, the short answer is simple: the generic name for Provigil is modafinil. Everything else on this page is about what that means in practice.

For this page we read the current FDA prescribing information for Provigil (the version listed under Apotex Corp. on the FDA's label database), the DailyMed listings for Provigil, and Afinil's "Provigil Generic 200mg" product page. We haven't tested any product in a lab, and nothing here is medical advice.

We earn a commission if you buy through our Afinil links, at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change what we say about prescriptions or the legal side.

Brand name vs generic name

Every prescription drug has at least two names:

• The generic name is the official name of the active ingredient. It's the same everywhere, no matter who makes the pill. For Provigil, that's modafinil.
• The brand name is a trademark chosen by the company that sells it. Provigil is one brand name for modafinil. Other companies sell modafinil under their own brand names in other countries.

So when you read "Provigil (modafinil)" on a label, the word in brackets is the generic name. A pharmacist, a doctor and an insurer can all use "modafinil" and mean the same active drug, whether the tablet in your hand is the brand or a copy.

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What the Provigil label says about modafinil

The FDA prescribing information is the most reliable source for the basic facts. Here's what it says, in plain words:

• What it is: Provigil (modafinil) is described as a "wakefulness-promoting agent for oral administration."
• Chemical name: 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide. This is the full chemistry name for the molecule. Its formula is C15H15NO2S.
• Form: modafinil is a white to off-white crystalline powder that hardly dissolves in water.
• Strengths: brand tablets come in 100 mg and 200 mg.
• Inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone and pregelatinized starch.
• Controlled status: modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance, which is why the bottle shows "CIV."
• Approved uses: excessive sleepiness linked to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder.

One detail people find useful: the label notes that modafinil is a "racemic compound." That's a chemistry term meaning the drug is a 50/50 mix of two mirror-image forms of the same molecule, called R-modafinil and S-modafinil. Keep that in mind, because it explains where Nuvigil fits in.

Provigil vs Nuvigil: two brands, two generic names

Nuvigil is often mentioned in the same breath as Provigil, and the names get mixed up. They aren't the same drug:

• Provigil = brand name, generic name modafinil (both mirror-image forms).
• Nuvigil = brand name, generic name armodafinil (only the R-form).

The Provigil label states that the R-form stays in the body much longer than the S-form; its half-life is about three times as long in adults. Armodafinil was developed as a drug made of that longer-lasting form alone. Because of that, the usual doses differ: Provigil is commonly prescribed at 200 mg, while Nuvigil comes in different strengths.

If you want the side-by-side on how the two brands compare, see our page on Nuvigil vs Provigil. The practical point here is simple. If your prescription says modafinil, a bottle that says armodafinil isn't the same thing, and you shouldn't swap one for the other without your prescriber's say-so.

Who makes Provigil?

Provigil was first brought to market by Cephalon, and it was first approved by the FDA in 1998. The brand has changed hands over the years. Today, the FDA's label database lists the current Provigil prescribing information under Apotex Corp., and DailyMed also lists versions from repackagers who relabel the same product for clinics and pharmacies.

For you as a patient, the company name matters less than the drug name. Whether the label says Cephalon, Apotex or a repackager, if it says "Provigil (modafinil)" and the strength matches your prescription, it's the same brand product.

Generic modafinil in the US

Once a brand's market protection ends, other companies can apply to sell copies. Generic modafinil tablets have been sold in US pharmacies for more than a decade, and they're now how most American patients get the drug.

To win FDA approval, a generic must have:

• the same active ingredient (modafinil),
• the same strength (100 mg or 200 mg),
• the same dosage form (a tablet taken by mouth), and
• evidence that it's bioequivalent to the brand, meaning it gets into the bloodstream at a similar rate and in a similar amount.

Inactive ingredients, shape, color and markings can differ. That's why your generic modafinil tablet might not look like a Provigil tablet, which the label describes as a white to off-white, capsule-shaped tablet with "PROVIGIL" on one side and "100 MG" or "200 MG" on the other.

Your US generic bottle usually just says "modafinil tablets," plus the strength and the maker's name. There's no separate brand name. If you want to know whether people notice a real difference between the brand and generic, our page on Provigil vs generic goes through the common forum claims and what the bioequivalence rules say about them.

Imported "Provigil generics" and their brand names

Search online for generic Provigil and you'll see a long list of names: ModaXL, Modalert, Modvigil, Modavinil, Modafil, Vilafinil and more. These are all modafinil tablets made in India, mainly for export. Each manufacturer gives its product its own brand name, the same way the original company named its product Provigil.

That's where the confusion starts. Online vendors often describe these products as "generic Provigil" because they contain modafinil. That's accurate about the active ingredient. But it's important to be clear about what it doesn't mean:

• They aren't FDA-approved. They haven't been through the US generic approval process, so they haven't shown bioequivalence to the FDA.
• They aren't US generics. A US pharmacy won't stock them, and your insurer won't treat them as your prescription.
• We haven't tested them. We can tell you what vendors say, not what's inside every pack.

If you'd like the background on how the different export brands compare, our guide to the best version of modafinil covers the most common names. For the difference between "IP" and "USP" on imported packs, see modafinil IP vs USP.

Afinil's "Provigil Generic 200mg"

Some vendors sell an export product with the name on the box describing it as a Provigil generic. Afinil, the vendor we link to, sells one called Provigil Generic 200mg. Here's what its product page says, as of when we checked it:

• Active ingredient: modafinil, 200 mg per tablet.
• Maker: HAB Pharma, which Afinil describes as an Indian manufacturer.
• Pack sizes: from 10 pills up to 1,000 pills.
• Listed prices: from $29 to $899 depending on the pack. The per-pill price shown runs from $2.99 on the smallest packs down to $0.89 on the 1,000-pill pack.
• Shipping: free shipping on orders over $130, and same-day dispatch for orders placed by 5 PM Pacific time.
• Guarantee: a 30-day guarantee on delivery and satisfaction.

Prices change, so treat these as a snapshot and check the live page before deciding anything. As with every export product, this isn't an FDA-approved US generic, even though the name says "Provigil Generic."

How to read a modafinil pack

Whatever you've been handed or are looking at online, the same few checks tell you what you've got.

1. Find the active ingredient line. On US bottles this is the main drug name. On imported packs it usually appears under the brand name, often as "Modafinil Tablets IP 200 mg" or similar.
2. Make sure it says modafinil, not armodafinil. The names look close, but they're different drugs with different strengths. Waklert, Artvigil and ArmodaXL, for example, are armodafinil products, not modafinil.
3. Match the strength to your prescription. Modafinil is usually prescribed at 200 mg once a day. The label says doses up to 400 mg a day were well tolerated in studies but showed no consistent extra benefit over 200 mg. Don't change your dose because a pack is stronger.
4. Note the maker, batch number and expiry date. These help your pharmacist or doctor if you ever have a question, and they let you report a problem with a specific batch.

If anything on the pack doesn't match what your prescriber expects, ask a pharmacist before you take it.

Why the name matters when you talk to your doctor or pharmacist

Using the generic name avoids mistakes. A few common situations:

• Your prescription says Provigil but you got modafinil. In many US states, pharmacists can swap in an FDA-approved generic unless your prescriber marked the brand as medically necessary. It's the same active drug. If you want the brand, ask your prescriber.
• You're checking for drug interactions. Use the word "modafinil," not a brand name, when you ask a pharmacist or check a reference. That way nothing gets missed.
• You're asking about insurance coverage. Insurers usually list drugs by generic name, and many cover generic modafinil more readily than the brand.
• You're traveling. Customs and pharmacies abroad will know the drug as modafinil. Brand names vary a lot by country.

A quick word on the law and prescriptions

Because modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US, you need a valid prescription to buy it from a US pharmacy, whether it's Provigil or a generic. Bringing in imported modafinil without one is a legal gray area at best. Our legal notes explain the rules in plain words, and if you don't have a prescriber yet, our page on getting a modafinil prescription online explains how telehealth works for this drug.

Modafinil isn't right for everyone. The label lists serious warnings, including rare but serious skin rashes and allergic reactions, and asks for caution in people with a history of psychosis, depression or mania. Persistent daytime sleepiness is also worth a proper medical check, because modafinil treats sleepiness, not the cause behind it. Talk to a clinician before you take it, and read our medical disclaimer.

Quick answers to the naming questions people ask

"Is modafinil a brand name?" No. Modafinil is the generic name. Provigil, ModaXL and Modalert are brand names.

"Is Provigil the only US brand?" Provigil is the original US brand. US generics are usually just labeled "modafinil."

"Is 'Provigil generic' a real product name?" For US pharmacies, the generic is just called modafinil. "Provigil Generic" as a product title is a vendor's label for an imported modafinil tablet.

"Does the generic name change with strength?" No. A 100 mg tablet and a 200 mg tablet are both modafinil.

Bottom line

The generic name for Provigil is modafinil, and its full chemical name is 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide. FDA-approved generic modafinil is sold in US pharmacies with a prescription, in the same strengths as the brand. Imported products such as ModaXL, Modalert or Afinil's HAB Pharma-made "Provigil Generic 200mg" also contain modafinil, but they aren't FDA-approved. Don't confuse modafinil with armodafinil, the generic name for Nuvigil. Whatever you choose, check the active ingredient and strength on the pack, and talk to your doctor first.

FAQ

What is the generic name for Provigil?

Modafinil. Provigil is the brand name, and modafinil is the active ingredient's generic name, the one printed on US generic bottles and most imported packs.

What is the chemical name of modafinil?

The Provigil label gives it as 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide. You'll almost never see that on a pharmacy label, but it does appear in the prescribing information.

Is modafinil the same as Nuvigil?

No. Nuvigil's generic name is armodafinil, which is one half (the R-form) of the modafinil molecule. They're related but separate drugs with different doses.

Is there a generic version of Provigil in the US?

Yes. FDA-approved generic modafinil tablets are sold at US pharmacies with a prescription, in the same 100 mg and 200 mg strengths as the brand.

Who makes brand Provigil now?

The current FDA label for Provigil lists Apotex Corp. as the company behind it. Earlier labels named Cephalon, the company that first brought it to market.

Are Modalert and ModaXL generic Provigil?

They contain modafinil, so people call them Provigil generics. But they're Indian export products that aren't FDA-approved, which is different from a US generic.

Do I need a prescription for generic modafinil?

Yes. Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US, and US pharmacies need a valid prescription for the brand or the generic.