Evaluation of the Effect of Modafinil on Cognitive Functions in Patients with Idiopathic Hypersomnia with P300.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Modafinil is a well-tolerated psychostimulant drug with low addictive potential that is used to treat patients with narcolepsy and other excessive sleepiness. Whereas favorable effects of modafinil on cognitive functions have been shown in a large number of studies, there are very few reports presenting the effects of modafinil electrophysiologically. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of modafinil on auditory P300 latency and amplitude electrophysiologically.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Eighteen patients (age range: 16-48 years) with a diagnosis of idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) were included in the present study. As a standard treatment, 200 mg/day modafinil was administered to each patient. The P300 auditory test was performed for each patient before and at the end of 1 week of modafinil treatment.

RESULTS:

After 1 week of modafinil treatment, mean P300 latencies (at all electrode sites) were significantly lower than the latencies before the treatment (P values for Fz, Cz and Pz recording sites were 0.039, 0.002, and 0.004, respectively). An increase in the P300 amplitudes was detected only at the Fz recording site, but not at Cz or Pz recording sites (P values for Fz, Cz, and Pz recording sites were 0.014, 0.100, and 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

One week of modafinil treatment improved the cognitive performance, alertness, and executive functions in IH patients. Our electrophysiologically obtained findings provide further confirmation for previous reports in which modafinil has been shown to exert favorable effects on cognitive performance, alertness, and executive functions.

• Authors: Mehmet Yaman, Fatıma Karakaya, Tuğçe Aydin, Hasan Mayda, Hail İbrahim Güzel, Dilek Kayaalp
• Journal: Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research (Med Sci Monit) Vol. 21 Pg. 1850-5 (Jun 27 2015) ISSN: 1643-3750 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26116438 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzhydryl Compounds
• Wakefulness-Promoting Agents
• Modafinil

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Benzhydryl Compounds (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Event-Related Potentials, P300
• Female
• Humans
• Idiopathic Hypersomnia (drug therapy, psychology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Modafinil
• Wakefulness-Promoting Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Young Adult