A History of Modafinil
Introduction
The history of Modafinil goes back to France in the late 1970s. The French pharmaceutical company Lafon invented a drug based on benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that became known as Adrafinil; and by 1986 Adrafinil was being used in France as a treatment for sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy. In the early 1990s the primary metabolite of Adranifil, Modafinil, was derived. Whilst both Adranifil and Modafinil work very similarly, Modafinil is by far the more popular version of the drug which was first made available on prescription in France in 1994. Initially known as Provigil in the USA, it has been available on prescription here since 1998. Up to 2001 Modafinil was marketed in the USA by Cephalon Inc. under a leasing agreement with Lafon. However, in 2001 Cephalon Inc. acquired Lafon and now holds the world-wide rights to the drug.
Other names for Modafinil
Internationally Modafinil is known by several names. As mentioned above in the USA it has previously been known as Provigil, whilst in France, when first marketed there, it was known as Modiodal. Other brand names used for Modafinil include; Alertec in Canada, Modavigil in New Zealand and Australia and Modalert in India. A new form of the drug has also just been released by Cephalon Inc. known as Nuvigil or Armodafinil.
Obtaining Modafinil
Modafinil is classed as a non-narcotic Schedule IV controlled substance by the US FDA and, as such, remains a prescription only drug for the treatment of sleeping disorders. Unless you are a registered importer you cannot legally buy Modafinil over the internet from another country. However, at present the drug Adrafinil, from which Modafinil is derived, can be legally purchased over the internet as it is not a classified controlled substance.
Developments in the use of Modafinil
Despite being originally designed as a treatment for sleeping disorders Modafinil also has a history in terms of being investigated as a possible treatment for a variety of other conditions. These other possible treatments remain ‘off-label uses’ and so cannot be used for marketing purposes by Cephalon Inc. Unfortunately Cephalon Inc. fell foul of this ruling in 2002, resulting in them having to pay a $425m fine in 2008. However, don’t feel too bad about that as the company currently has a turn-over of approaching $2 billion.
Of significant interest to students all over the world is a 2003 study by a Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology in the University of Cambridge (UK); who found that recipients of a 200mg dose of Modafinil coped more effectively with high volumes of information compared to a control group. It was this study that projected Modafinil as a ‘smart’ or brain-power boosting drug.
Working on the hypothalamus several trials have been undertaken to establish if Modafinil can be used as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Whilst some improvements in cognitive functions were noted, about 20% of the treated samples reported insomnia and headaches as common side-effects. In 2004 a variant of Modafinil called Sparlon was proposed as a specific treatment for ADHD, however this was dropped by Cephalon Inc in 2006.
Being a drug to combat neurological fatigue, in 2000 Cephalon instigated a study into the effects of Modafinil on multiple sclerosis. It appears that at low dosages Modafinil can have a positive effect on reducing some of the fatigue symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, but to date no license has been issued allowing it to be marketed as such.
Similar to the ADHD trials the efficacy of Modafinil as a drug to treat post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment has been tested, with some encouraging results to date.
As an anti-fatigue drug Modafinil was of interest to athletes looking for the ability to train for longer and, therefore, perform better. However, by 2004 the World Anti-Doping Agency had added it to its prohibited substances list due to the ability of Modafinil to act like an amphetamine.
Indeed having a similar action on the brain to amphetamines, Modafinil has been investigated as a treatment for cocaine addiction and as a weight loss supplement. In the case of treating cocaine addiction Modafinil was found to be of little use. Whilst as a dieting aid it can help people to lose weight by decreasing food intake without apparent risks to the heart, studies into Modafinil as a diet pill are still ongoing.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a drug that battles fatigue, Modafinil has been found to act as a mood enhancer, particularly in the 30-44 age range.
Finally, and needless to say, the international military organizations have shown great interest in using Modafinil for servicemen and women. Its ability to counter the natural circadian rhythms of user’s means that it is effective in countering jet-lag, preparing service personnel for action following inter-continental flights; with it also being effectively used on space missions.