Description
Modafinil is a stimulant drug marketed as a ‘wakefulness promoting agent’ and is one of the stimulants used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is caused by dysfunction of a family of wakefulness-promoting and sleep-suppressing peptides, the orexins, whose neurons are activated by modafinil.
The prexin neuron activation is associated with psychoactivation and euphoria. The exact mechanism of action is unclear, although in vitro studies have shown it to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine by binding to the dopamine reuptake pump, and lead to an increase in extracellular dopamine.
Modafinil activates glutamatergic circuits while inhibiting GABA.
To improve wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with narcolepsy.
Pharmacodynamics
Modafinil is a stimulant drug marketed as a ‘wakefulness promoting agent’ and is one of the stimulants used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is caused by dysfunction of a family of wakefulness-promoting and sleep-suppressing peptides, the orexins, whose neurons are activated by modafinil.
The prexin neuron activation is associated with psychoactivation and euphoria. Modafinil is not indicated for complaints of lack of energy or fatigue; but it appears to be very helpful for some patients.
Also, it has been used in the treatment of hypersomnia, a disorder in which patients lack the capacity for meaningful sleep and may require ten or more hours per day. Recent studies have have found that modafinil may help recovering cocaine addicts fight their addiction.
Mechanism of action
The exact mechanism of action is unclear, although in vitro studies have shown it to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine by binding to the dopamine reuptake pump, and lead to an increase in extracellular dopamine.
Modafinil activates glutamatergic circuits while inhibiting GABA. Modafinil is thought to have less potential for abuse than other stimulants due to the absence of any significant euphoric or pleasurable effects. It is possible that modafinil acts by a synergistic combination of mechanisms including direct inhibition of dopamine reuptake, indirect inhibition of noradrenalin reuptake in the VLPO and orexin activation.
Modafinil has partial alpha 1B-adrenergic agonist effects by directly stimulating the receptors.
Side effects
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.Some medical conditions may interact with Modafinil.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions.
Stop Modafinil and call your doctor right away or get emergency treatment if you have a skin rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or your skin blisters and peels, or if you have any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body). Modafinil may cause the following side effects in some people. In clinical studies, these side effects also occurred in people who received non-active (sugar) tablets. Tell your doctor if you notice any of these: headache, nausea, diarrhoea, dry mouth, poor appetite, runny nose, sore throat, nervous feeling, dizziness, back pain, feeling anxious, upset stomach, trouble sleeping.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.
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