title: Modafinil: a double-blind multicentric study.
abstract: Modafinil is a central putative alpha-1 postsynaptic agonist with vigilance-promoting properties. Fifty narcoleptics (33 male and 17 female) participated in a multicentric study aimed at assessing the effects of the compound on night sleep, feeling on awakening, excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Modafinil was administered in a double-blind cross-over design at a daily dosage of 300 mg versus placebo. The duration of the study was 12 weeks, including a 2-week "run in" period with placebo, a first 4-week treatment period with either modafinil or placebo, a 2-week wash-out period with placebo and a second 4-week treatment period with either placebo or modafinil. Daily evaluation was based on a sleep log, visual analog scales, a sleep questionnaire and a clinical global index. Sleep laboratory evaluation took place on nights 1, 28, 42 and 70. It included 1 night of polysomnography preceded by a questionnaire on therapeutic and side effects, and a maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). Sleep logs did not show any modification of night sleep, but a reduction of daytime sleepiness and sleep. Feeling on awakening was not modified. An overall benefit was noted by physicians as well as by patients. MWT disclosed a positive effect of modafinil on excessive daytime sleepiness. Cataplexy was not modified.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie B, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Billiard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besset
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montplaisir
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laffont
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lubin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077408:Modafinil; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010919:Placebos; D000077408:Modafinil