Relative efficacy of drugs for the treatment of sleepiness in narcolepsy.
A survey was conducted on 10 polysomnographic studies on the pharmacologic treatment of the sleepiness of narcolepsy. Three studies employed the MSLT and 7 employed the MWT as their polygraphic measure of sleep tendency. Statistically and clinically significant therapeutic changes were apparent for pemoline, modafinil, dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. Codeine, ritanserin and protriptyline did show statistically significant effects. The common feature among the drugs that did produce clinically significant improvements seems to be facilitatory action on central catecholaminergic transmission. Within this group of drugs, only methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine brought MWT sleep latencies to approximately 70% of normal levels.
Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
M M
MM
Mitler
R
R
Hajdukovic
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077408:Modafinil; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010389:Pemoline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011530:Protriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D016713:Ritanserin; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014745:Viloxazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010880:Piperidines; D016713:Ritanserin; D008774:Methylphenidate; D011530:Protriptyline; D014745:Viloxazine; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D010389:Pemoline; D000077408:Modafinil; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D003061:Codeine