Dear Mr. Kirsch: This letter objects to Cephalon Inc’s (Cephalon) dissemination of false or misleading promotional materials1 for Provigil (modafanil) Tablets. As a part of its routine monitoring and surveillance program, the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) has reviewed these materials for Provigil and has concluded that they are false, lacking in fair […]
Month: June 2020
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Investigation of the Efficacy of Modafinil for Sustaining the Alertness and Performance of Aviators: a Helicopter Simulator Study
ABSTRACT RATIONALE: In 1998, the FDA approved modafinil for treating excessive daytime sleepiness in narcoleptics, and this has raised questions about the appropriateness of this compound for enhancing alertness in sleep-deprived controls. This study explored the efficacy of modafinil for maintaining the performance of volunteers required to accomplish highly demanding tasks despite sleep loss. OBJECTIVE: […]
Wake-Promoting and Sleep-Suppressing Actions of Hypocretin (Orexin): Basal Forebrain Sites of Action
ABSTRACT The hypocretins (orexins) are a newly identified peptide family comprised of two peptides, hypocretin-1 and hypocretin-2. Recent observations suggest an involvement of these peptides in the regulation of behavioral state. For example, these peptides are found in a variety of brain regions associated with the regulation of forebrain neuronal and behavioral activity states. Furthermore, […]
The Vigilance Promoting Drug Modafinil Increases Extracellular Glutamate Levels in the Medial Preoptic area and the Posterior Hypothalamus of the Conscious Rat: Prevention by Local GABAA Receptor Blockade
ABSTRACT The effects of modafinil on glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission in the rat medial preoptic area (MPA) and posterior hypothalamus (PH), are analysed. Modafinil (30-300 mg/kg) increased glutamate and decreased GABA levels in the MPA and PH. Local perfusion with the GABAA agonist muscimol (10 microM), reduced, while the GABAA antagonist bicuculline (1 microM and […]
Effects of Modafinil on Working Memory Processes in Humans
ABSTRACT RATIONALE: Modafinil is a well-tolerated psychostimulant drug with low addictive potential that is used to treat patients with narcolepsy or attention deficit disorders and to enhance vigilance in sleep-deprived military personal. So far, understanding of the cognitive enhancing effects of modafinil and the relevant neurobiological mechanisms are incomplete. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study […]
Modafinil : A Review of Its Use in Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea/Hypopnoea Syndrome and Shift Work Sleep Disorder
ABSTRACT Modafinil (Provigil((R))) is a wake-promoting agent that is pharmacologically distinct from CNS stimulants, such as amfetamine, dexamfetamine and methylphenidate. Modafinil is approved for use in the US and certain European countries for use in patients with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSA/HS) or shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Oral modafinil […]
Pills Provide Brain Boost for Academics
Some academics use ‘smart drugs’ to sharpentheir performance. Tony Tysome explores the issues Feeling under intense pressure to improve your performance at work? Fatigued by the growing demands of a 24/7 society? These are occupational hazards affecting many of today’s academics. But the suggestion that an individual’s performance can be improved, and tiredness overcome, simply […]
Central Alpha 1-Adrenergic Stimulation in Relation to the Behaviour Stimulating Effect of Modafinil; Studies with Experimental Animals
ABSTRACT Single administration of the new drug modafinil was followed by an increase in locomotor activity in mice and in nocturnal activity in monkeys. Stereotyped behaviour in mice and rats, and potentiation of amphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour were not observed; however, at the highest dose used, a slight potentiation of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour was observed in […]
Modafinil Improves Cognition and Attentional Set Shifting in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia
ABSTRACT Modafinil, a novel cognitive enhancer, selectively improves neuropsychological task performance in healthy volunteers and adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It has been argued that persistent cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia are responsible for the failure of many patients to rehabilitate socially even when psychotic symptoms are in remission. The present […]
Wakefulness Finds a Powerful Ally
Laurie Coots, a marketing executive who flies to meetings in other countries twice a week, spent years trying to conquer sleepless nights and chronic jet lag. But nothing worked, she says, and every day was a struggle to stay awake. “It was debilitating,” said Ms. Coots, 46, who is from Los Angeles. “I couldn’t give […]
