Modafinil – a miracle drug?

Modafinil increases productivity at work

Since 20 years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of modafinil for the treatment of narcolepsy or pathological sleepiness, nootropic drugs (including modafinil) have gained popularity among corporate employees and students. The common belief is that they allow you to stay awake and focused for long periods. Modafinil is available in foreign online stores, including in products such as Vigil, Provigil, Modafinil, and Modalert.

• hypersomnia,
• narcolepsy,
• narcolepsy with cataplexy,
• sleep disorders,
• obstructive sleep apnea,
• and sometimes shift work. Working night shifts is not a disease, but people who work night shifts often cannot function normally.

What is Hypersomnia?

Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder characterized mainly by excessive sleep and/or excessive daytime sleepiness. This means when someone sleeps too long? In medicine, it is considered that too much sleep lasts more than 10 hours.

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a classic hypersomnia. Its characteristic feature is a set of four symptoms called the narcoleptic tetrad: excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis (a fear some people experience when falling asleep - they cannot move their hand or foot), and hallucinations.

What is Cataplexy?

Cataplexy is a sudden, usually symmetrical loss of skeletal muscle tone that is not accompanied by loss of consciousness. During an attack, the patient may suddenly fall to the ground, fall asleep while performing any activity, and it often happens that something falls from the patient's hands.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Modafinil works quickly and lasts long

Modafinil tablets start working approximately two hours after ingestion and the effect lasts half a day. If you take a pill in the morning when you get out of bed and go to work, you will feel the effect. The secretion of hypocretin, which is responsible for wakefulness, increases. In simple terms, drowsiness disappears, and you are in good shape and ready to work. Researchers at the University of California have shown that after taking modafinil, cognitive functions improve by 21%, and mental fatigue decreases by 47%. That's why astronauts take modafinil.

Modafinil enhances desire

What modafinil helps you focus is one thing. But it seems that if taken regularly, it can be useful both in the gym and in the bedroom. Studies have shown that modafinil increases histamine levels, but that doesn't mean you'll be sneezing and itching all the time. It turns out that histamine also increases testosterone levels, which affects productivity.

Modafinil facilitates learning

Studying the impact of this substance on the GABA neurotransmitter level, researchers found that modafinil reduces the level of GABA, making learning new things easier. Researchers at the University of Oxford have shown that reducing the level of GABA not only improves motor skills (for example, you learn to play the guitar or dance faster), but also allows you to absorb information more quickly.

Side effects of modafinil

It looks attractive, almost like a miracle supplement. Exactly. Every drug has side effects, and modafinil is no exception. According to the European Medicines Agency, common (at least one in 10 cases) side effects of modafinil include, among others:

• Headache,
  
• increased heart rate - if this happens, be sure to inform your doctor,
• vision problems - it is better not to drive,
• nausea,
• dizziness,
• stomach problems,
• sleep problems,
• unusual excitement, nervousness

You may experience fatigue from diarrhea or constipation. Of course, insomnia is also on the list of side effects, but most users rely on this theoretically unwanted effect. The good news: long-term American studies in large groups have shown that, fortunately, modafinil does not cause addiction. However, it is important to remember that the EMA has assessed the safety and efficacy of modafinil, and not everything is as rosy.

Author: PETR ZAKRAVACH

Sources:

1. Recommendation No. 15/2019 of April 10, 2019. President of the Agency for the Assessment of Medical Technologies and Tariffs on the legality of agreeing to reimburse the cost of medicines: Vigil (modafinil), tab. 100 mg, Provigil (modafinil), tab. 100 mg, modafinil (modafinil), tab. 200 mg, Modafinil-Neuraxpharm (modafinil), tab. 100 mg, Modalert (modafinil), tab. 200 mg for indications: hypersomnia, narcolepsy, narcolepsy with cataplexy, sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea.

2. Kim D. Practical use and risk of modafinil, a new awakening drug. Environmental Toxicology for Health. 2012; 27: e2012007. doi: 10.5620 / eht.2012.27.e2012007

3. Yashinsky D.R. Assessment of the potential for modafinil abuse using methylphenidate as a sample. J. Psychopharmacol. 2000; 14 (1): 53-60. doi:10.1177/026988110001400107

4. Baranski J.V., Pizzo R., Dinech P., Jacobs I. The effect of modafinil on cognitive and metacognitive functions. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2004; 19 (5): 323-332. doi: 10.1002/hup.596