Efficacy and Safety of Modafinil for Improving Daytime Wakefulness in Patients Treated Previously With Psychostimulants
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2003
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of modafinil for improving wakefulness in narcolepsy patients treated previously with psychostimulants. Background: Modafinil has become a standard therapy for improving daytime wakefulness in narcolepsy patients and may be a useful therapeutic alternative to psychostimulants used to improve waking function in other medical conditions. Modafinil is chemically dissimilar to and has a pharmacological profile that differs from the psychostimulants. Modafinil has a low abuse potential and is well tolerated. Methods: Patients (N = 151) with narcolepsy who had been unsatisfactorily treated with dextroamphetamine (N = 48), methylphenidate (N = 66), or pemoline (N = 37) were enrolled in this 6-week, open-label, multicenter study. Following a 2-week washout period, patients received modafinil once daily (Week 1, 200 mg; Weeks 2-6, 200 or 400 mg). Efficacy was evaluated at Weeks 1, 2, and 6 using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Clinical Global Impression of Change. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study. Results: Treatment with modafinil improved daytime wakefulness versus baseline regardless of which psychostimulant was taken previously. Mean ESS scores were improved after 1 week of treatment with modafinil. Improvements were maintained throughout the 6 weeks of treatment (all P < 0.001 versus baseline after washout). At Week 6, 79% of all patients were considered to be clinically improved relative to post-washout baseline. The most frequent adverse events were headache, nausea, and insomnia; the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in nature. Approximately 70% of patients were receiving 400 mg of modafinil once daily at the end of the study. Conclusion: During this 6-week, open-label study, modafinil was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for improving daytime wakefulness in narcolepsy patients previously treated with psychostimulants. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Title
Sleep Medicine
Volume
4
Issue
1
First Page
43
Last Page
49
Recommended Citation
Schwartz, J. R.,
Feldman, N. T.,
Fry, J. M.,
Harsh, J. R.
(2003). Efficacy and Safety of Modafinil for Improving Daytime Wakefulness in Patients Treated Previously With Psychostimulants. Sleep Medicine, 4(1), 43-49.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/4513