Modafinil (Provigil) is a prescription medication that helps people with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea to stay awake. It can be used in combination with other treatments for these conditions.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of modafinil on cognitive/psychomotor performance and mood measures during simulated shift work.
Dosage
Modafinil 200 Australia is a wakefulness promoting agent used to treat narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder. It also helps people with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) to stay awake during the day.
Compared to placebo, both active doses of modafinil improved cognitive/psychomotor performance during the day-shift condition; on the DAT, both doses increased tracking speed. On the RIT, both doses increased hits and decreased total misses. The 400-mg dose also increased ratings of alertness on days 1 and 2.
Modafinil also significantly reduced both objective and subjective sleep measures during the night shift. However, the effects were less pronounced than those observed on day shift. The results are congruent with previous research indicating that psychostimulants reduce performance and mood disruptions during abrupt shift changes. These findings may have clinical relevance for workers who are regularly exposed to abrupt shift changes, such as healthcare and military personnel.
Side Effects
Modafinil is a stimulant medication that has been shown to improve cognitive function and mood in individuals with shift work sleep disorder. Studies have also found it to reduce symptoms of narcolepsy and sleep apnea. It is well-tolerated and has low risk of abuse and addiction.
It is usually taken in the morning before starting your day. For shift work sleep disorder, it is often taken about an hour before your start your work shift. It should not be taken by people who have severe liver damage or are older than 65, as the medication is broken down by the liver.
It is not a substitute for getting enough sleep. Talk to your doctor for advice on good sleep habits. Modalert 200 mg can interact with certain medicines, including some antidepressants and narcotics. Avoid taking it with alcohol or tobacco. It can cause chest pain, which could be a sign of a heart attack. It can also make some medical conditions worse, such as vascular disease or psychosis.
Interactions
Modafinil interacts with several medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, blood pressure medicines, heart medications, and some antibiotics. It also interacts with alcohol and some drugs that affect the central nervous system (drugs that make you drowsy). Talk to your doctor before taking modafinil if you are taking any of these medications.
When participants in this study were exposed to abrupt shift schedule changes, cognitive performance and subjective ratings of mood were disrupted during night-shift work. Therapeutic doses of modafinil significantly attenuated night-shift-associated disruptions in both performance and mood.
Patients with chronic SWSD experienced significant improvement in quality of life and functional status after 12 weeks of treatment with modafinil 200 mg or 300 mg administered 30 to 60 minutes before their regularly scheduled night shifts. Unlike traditional stimulants, modafinil does not produce side effects such as excess locomotor activity or feelings of jitteriness. However, this medication is still a controlled substance because of its potential for abuse and addiction.
Precautions
Modafinil comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. If you are taking it to treat narcolepsy, it is usually taken in the morning when you wake up. If you are taking it to treat shift work sleep disorder, it is usually taken about 1 hour before your first scheduled work shift.
Follow the directions on your prescription label and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
This drug may affect your ability to think or act quickly. Avoid driving or using machines until you know how this medication affects you. This medication can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or sleepy. This drug can cause severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis). Get emergency help if you have symptoms of a serious skin reaction.
