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 .
Benefits of adjunct modafinil in an open-label, pilot study in patients with schizophrenia
Patients with schizophrenia experience cognitive impairments associated with hypofunctioning of the frontal cortex . Modafinil , a novel wake-promoting agent , works through the sleep – wake centers of the brain to activate the cortex . This 4-week , open-label , pilot study evaluated adjunct modafinil in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder . Eleven patients received once-daily oral doses of modafinil ( 100 mg/day , days 1–14 ; 100 or 200 mg/day , days 15–28 ) in addition to antipsychotic therapy . Modafinil significantly improved patients ' global functioning as assessed by a blinded clinician ( week 2 , P = 0.026 ; week 4 , P = 0.012 ) and the investigator ( week 3 , P = 0.035 ) . Modafinil significantly improved overall clinical condition , with 64 % and 82 % of patients rated as clinical ly improved at week 4 by a blinded clinician and the investigator respectively . Eighty-nine percent of patients considered themselves to be clinical ly improved . Modafinil significantly improved fatigue ( P = 0.025 , week 3 ) and tended to improve cognitive functioning scores . Control of positive symptoms was well maintained . Treatment-emergent adverse events included dry mouth ( n = 2 ) and hallucinations ( n = 2 ) . One patient discontinued the study because of hallucinations that were considered to be possibly related to inadequate antipsychotic therapy . Although preliminary , these results suggest modafinil may be an effective and well-tolerated adjunct treatment that improves global functioning and clinical condition , and reduces fatigue in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder . Additional controlled studies are warranted
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 .