A total of nine people in Singapore were hospitalized after developing severe rashes and blisters all over their bodies from taking a drug that was once promoted as a smart drug for better cognitive performance.
According to the Daily Mail on Friday, seven men and two women between the ages of 18 and 57 in Singapore were hospitalized between February 2024 and February 2025 after taking modafinil or armodafinil.
Modafinil and armodafinil are prescription medications primarily used to treat sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorders. However, their ability to combat drowsiness and boost energy has become popular among students and professionals, even those without a medical condition.
Despite being prescription-only medications, all nine patients had obtained the drugs illegally—either from street vendors or acquaintances.
According to Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), six of the patients developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a severe reaction that caused skin peeling and mouth ulcers, making it impossible for them to eat or speak for several days. The other three patients suffered from toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a more severe condition that led to blisters covering 60% of their bodies, affecting their faces, chests, arms, genitals, legs, and soles of their feet.
All nine patients are recovering, and no deaths have been reported. The HSA warned that modafinil and armodafinil are not officially approved in Singapore and strongly advised against taking them without a prescription, emphasizing the severe health risks involved.
Medications for Sleep Disorders—Now Being Abused for Cognitive Enhancement
Modafinil and armodafinil were initially developed to treat narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work disorder. They are classified as non-amphetamine central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, helping users stay awake and alert. However, in recent years, their misuse has surged among students and professionals seeking to improve focus and productivity.
Common side effects of these drugs include headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite. However, they can also cause serious health risks, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, hallucinations, and manic episodes.
Untreated Narcolepsy Can Lead to Depression
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. It can also cause sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy (loss of muscle control), sleep paralysis, and vivid hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up.
The condition is believed to result from a deficiency of hypocretin, a neurohormone produced in the hypothalamus that regulates wakefulness. Studies suggest that approximately 0.02% to 0.18% of adults experience narcolepsy, with genetic factors also playing a role.
If left untreated, narcolepsy can severely impact academic performance in teenagers and cause difficulties in professional and daily life for adults. Excessive daytime sleepiness can also lead to depression.
Treatment typically includes stimulant medications to manage daytime sleepiness and antidepressants for cataplexy and sleep paralysis. Short naps (about 20 minutes) during the day can be beneficial when symptoms become overwhelming.
Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is also crucial for managing narcolepsy. Experts recommend going to bed and waking up simultaneously every day and creating an optimal sleep environment by minimizing noise, adjusting room temperature, and controlling lighting. Caffeine and smoking should also be avoided.
When struggling with daytime drowsiness, relaxing facial muscles, stretching from fingers and toes to the whole body, and engaging in physical movement can help maintain wakefulness.
