Effects of modafinil on symptomatology of human narcolepsy.
We studied the effects of modafinil, a putative central alpha-1 agonist, on the excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) of 10 narcoleptic patients while using a double-blind design and objective measurements of vigilance. There were two treatment periods, in which either modafinil or placebo was used; each lasted four weeks and was preceded by a 2-week "run-in" period and separated by a 2-week "wash-out" period. The effects of treatment on EDS were evaluated by daily home questionnaires and a psychomotor performance test, the Four Choice Reaction Time Test (FCRTT). Modafinil reduced the daily number of sleep attacks significantly, and markedly improved performances during the FCRTT. Results of this study suggest that modafinil is effective in treating EDS in narcolepsy, and that noradrenergic mechanisms could be involved in the physiopathology of EDS in that disorder.
Boivin
D B
DB
Centre d'étude du sommeil, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Montplaisir
J
J
Petit
D
D
Lambert
C
C
Lubin
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077408:Modafinil; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000077408:Modafinil