Modafinil for a More Functional Life With Sleep Disorders
Modafinil is an effective wakefulness medication that can help improve sleep cycles for people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea or shift work sleep disorder. It can also be used to help treat fatigue associated with depression, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease.
In this secondary analysis of 2 randomized placebo-controlled studies (4-week and 12-week interventions), modafinil improved functional outcomes and quality of life when added to CPAP in patients with residual excessive sleepiness despite CPAP use.
Narcolepsy
Getting enough sleep is important for maintaining your health. However, sometimes it’s hard to get the restful sleep you need. Modafinil can help people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), or shift work sleep disorder stay awake during the day. It’s not a cure for these conditions, but it can help you function and be productive when other treatments aren’t working. Talk to your doctor about the right dose and schedule for you.
In a number of large, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, once-daily modafinil was found to be well tolerated and an effective wake-promoting agent in narcolepsy. Efficacy was measured using objective assessments, such as multiple sleep latency tests or maintenance of wakefulness tests.
The exact mechanism of action of modafinil australia online is not fully understood. However, it binds weakly but selectively to the dopamine transporter in certain brain regions and increases extracellular levels of monoamines, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in these regions. Mutant mice lacking the dopamine transporter gene were unresponsive to modafinil.
Sodium oxybate and other older drugs are used to treat narcolepsy, but they are not always completely effective and have many side effects that can be bothersome, including irritability, changes in heart rhythm, and anxiety. Modafinil is a more modern drug that has been shown to be safe and effective for treating narcolepsy. It is also less likely to cause addiction and has fewer interactions with other medications.
Sleep Apnea
The sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) can cause fatigue, snoring and waking up feeling short of breath or like you're choking. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with surgery to remove excess tissue in the throat or with a device that holds the airway open while you're sleeping. Cleveland Clinic's team of experts can help you find the right treatment plan for your condition.
Modafinil significantly improved wakefulness in large, double-blind placebo-controlled studies of patients with narcolepsy and in two clinical trials of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea. In these trials, modafinil improved the time it takes to fall asleep on the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and ability to stay awake on the MWT as well as patient-reported sleepiness scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Kobbelohler–Semenescu Sleepiness Scale.
These improvements in wakefulness were accompanied by improvements in behavioral alertness and functional status. The benefits were maintained during 40 weeks of follow-up. Modafinil was also well tolerated in long-term studies, and there was no apparent increase in the risk of abuse or dependence.
Talk to your doctor before taking modafinil if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, depression, psychosis, psychiatric disorders or heart problems or if you take any medications, especially blood thinners (anticoagulants). Certain medicines may interact with modafinil, and some foods or beverages may affect how it works.
Shift Work Sleep Disorder
While some sleep disorders can be managed by making lifestyle changes, others may require the use of sleep aids. Sleep aids can enhance breathing, make it easier to fall asleep, and improve the quality of your sleep. Among the most commonly used sleep aids are melatonin and hypnotics, such as zolpidem (Ambien) or eszopiclone (Lunesta).
If you work night shifts, or your schedule rotates, and you have difficulty falling or staying asleep during scheduled sleeping hours, then you may have a condition known as Shift Work Sleep Disorder. This condition is characterized by circadian rhythm disturbances, which can lead to excessive sleepiness and insomnia.
Symptoms of this sleep disorder can include problems with focus, memory and concentration as well as mood swings and a weakened immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. While a diagnosis is not always straightforward for shift workers due to the irregularity of their work schedules, it is possible to recognize the symptoms and get help by seeing your doctor. They will assess your symptoms, your work schedule and will request that you keep a sleep log for a few weeks.
Depending on the severity of your case, they may recommend additional testing or polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis. Modalert Tablet is a wakefulness promoting agent that has been shown to be effective in treating SWSD in multiple double-blind placebo-controlled studies. In these trials, modafinil significantly improved sleep latency on the MSLT and ability to remain awake during a MWT, as well as reduced patient-reported measures of sleepiness, resulting in better functioning, health-related quality of life, and nighttime and daytime sleep.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common complaint among patients with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Modafinil can help these patients stay awake through the day by increasing their levels of wakefulness.
Unlike traditional central nervous system stimulants, modafinil does not result in excessive tiredness (crash) as it wears off. Instead, it is thought to stimulate the hypothalamus in the brain and improve sleep/wake patterns. It has also been shown to be effective in improving performance during long periods of wakefulness. Pilots taking modafinil were able to stay awake during lengthy helicopter simulator flights and demonstrated improved cognitive function after the flight.
Modafinil has been shown to be safe and well tolerated in double-blind, placebo controlled studies and long-term extension studies. It has been reported that it is superior to placebo in promoting wakefulness and enhancing performance in narcolepsy, obstructive OSA/hypopnea syndrome, and SWSD.
Those with a history of narcolepsy, obstructive or sleep-related breathing problems, or SWSD should talk to their doctor about this medication. They should also discuss any other medications they are currently taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies.