Modafinil
Pronunciation:moh-DA-fih-nill
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:68693-11-8
Formal Names:Alertec, Modiodal, Provigil
Type:Stimulant.Seepage 11
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule IV (DEA no. 1680)
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:C
Uses.This drug is a medical treatment for narcolepsy and other conditions
involving difficulty in staying awake. The substance also improves vigilance.
In the 1990s U.S. Air Force researchers called for exploration of the drug’s
potential in assisting military missions. Investigators have found that the com-
pound may assist aircraft pilots in maintaining a better performance level
when deprived of sleep for extended periods. An experiment indicated that
the drug can help military personnel engage in sustained operations for 64
hours without sleep, with fewer unwanted effects than amphetamine has. A
French military experiment showed the drug could be used along with short
naps to permit extended operations without normal sleep periods. Additional
study has shown, however, that people using the compound are less aware
of reduced quality of performance; in comparison, sleep-deprived individuals
who usedextroamphetamineor a placebo have a more accurate assessment
of their capabilities. Thus, from a practical standpoint, sleep-deprived persons
using modafinil may be overconfident and try to do things that should not
be attempted.
Modafinil is used against obstructive sleep apnea, in which people have
temporary breathing stoppages while asleep and which can make them sleepy
the next day. Experiments find that although modafinil helps people stay
awake, it does not interfere with the quality of their sleep, as dextroamphet-
amine does. Modafinil has helped patients respond better to antidepressant
therapy while also reducing their feelings of weariness. Favorable results have
been seen in experiments using the drug against attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) and against organic brain problems caused by alcoholism.
An animal study indicates the substance may have potential for treating Par-
kinson’s disease. Some authorities speculate that the compound may reduce
brain problems caused by aging. Modafinil makes animals more active.