Provigil is a prescription medicine used to improve wakefulness in people, which is caused by narcolepsy or shift work sleep disorder sequence, helping to manage excessive sleeplessness. It is believed that taking low doses of Provigil (100 mg/day) may help people with depression; it can also be used as monotherapy. Provigil has a very low potential for dependence. It also showed the drug had far fewer side effects than other drugs taken to help with alertness, such as amphetamines and caffeine. Provigil does not cure these conditions and will only work as long as you continue to take it.