Use of modafinil for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To review the evidence for the use of modafinil in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
A MEDLINE search (January 1990-May 2006) was conducted using MeSH terms ADHD and modafinil. The search was limited to English-language articles on clinical trials in humans. The Cochrane Database was also searched.


METHODS
The literature search yielded 4 randomized clinical trials.


RESULTS
The use of modafinil in the treatment of ADHD is associated with significant improvements in primary outcome measures used to assess the status of patients diagnosed with ADHD. Several aspects of cognitive function in ADHD patients also appear to improve following modafinil treatment. Modafinil shows a favorable adverse effect profile. Insomnia and headache were the most common adverse effects, seen in approximately 20% of treated individuals. However, it has not been demonstrated that the beneficial effects of modafinil are maintained with chronic administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Modafinil may be a viable option for some patients in the treatment of ADHD, perhaps those for whom standard ADHD therapies have not been successful or tolerated. There remains a need for additional large, long-term studies using flexible titration methods to optimize the dose of modafinil to establish safety and efficacy, as well as head-to-head comparisons between modafinil and both long- and short-acting stimulants to determine the role of modafinil in the treatment of ADHD.
Lindsay
Shane E
SE
College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Gudelsky
Gary A
GA
Heaton
Pamela C
PC
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000077408:Modafinil
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000077408:Modafinil