Soma Sri Harsha
Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, India
Title: A rare case of modafinil dependence: A case report
Biography
Biography: Soma Sri Harsha
Abstract
Modafinil, a non-amphetamine psycho-stimulant, is indicated for narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder and severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Modafinil is prescribed at the dose of 100 mg once in a day or as two doses, 12 h apart in a day. Unlike classical stimulant medications like methylphenidate, modafinil has been thought to produce its wake-promoting effects independent of dopaminergic actions it has also been found that it reduces cocaine dependence and withdrawal phenomenon. Modafinil is a very beneficial medication and this particular finding in and of itself should not affect the way it is prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy or even for the treatment in some instances off-label for (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) ADHD or for cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia, because under those conditions, the patient is being monitored properly. However, it is directly pertinent to the concept of the misuse of modafinil, which is increasingly being utilized by healthy individuals with the expectation of improved cognitive performance. Modafinil is claimed to have very low liability for abuse and dependence. Here we report a rare case of modafinil dependence.