A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .
Modafinil for clozapine-treated schizophrenia patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.
BACKGROUND Patients with schizophrenia often suffer from cognitive deficits and negative symptoms that are poorly responsive to antipsychotics including clozapine . Clozapine-induced sedation can worsen cognition and impair social and occupational functioning . OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy , tolerability , and safety of modafinil for negative symptoms , cognition , and wakefulness/fatigue in DSM-IV-diagnosed schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine . METHOD A double-blind , placebo-controlled , flexible-dosed 8-week pilot trial was conducted between September 2003 and September 2007 , adding modafinil up to 300 mg/d to stabilized schizophrenia out patients receiving clozapine .  Psychopathology , cognition , and wakefulness/fatigue were assessed with st and ard rating scales . RESULTS Thirty-five patients were r and omly assigned to treatment with study drug and included in the analysis . Modafinil did not reduce negative symptoms or wakefulness/fatigue or improve cognition compared to placebo . Modafinil was well tolerated and did not worsen psychosis . CONCLUSIONS Results of this pilot trial do not support routine use of modafinil to treat negative symptoms , cognitive deficits , or wakefulness/fatigue in patients on clozapine . However , given our limited power to detect a treatment effect and the clear possibility of a type II error , larger trials are needed to resolve or refute a potential therapeutic effect of uncertain magnitude . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00573417
A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .