Modafinil (Provigil) is one of the wakefulness-promoting prescription drugs advised for the treatment of excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used by people with shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).
Off-label, healthy individuals use modafinil to boost their memory, concentration, focus, attention, alertness, motivation, and learning – thanks to its wakefulness-promoting effects.
So, is modafinil used for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
Well, the drug is sometimes used off-label to treat the symptoms of ADHD in adults who are 18 and older. The FDA does not approve of the therapeutic use of modafinil in people with ADHD.
However, some studies have shown that this nootropic improved the ADHD symptoms compared to a placebo.
The FDA has categorized modafinil under a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because its use could lead to addiction.
Please note that the safety and efficacy of modafinil in children have not been established yet. So, the drug is generally not advised to children with ADHD.
What is ADHD? It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, interfering with a person’s functioning or development.
“The prevalence of ADHD in childhood is between 4% and 7%,” according to Psychiatric Times (PT). “Emerging evidence indicates that ADHD symptoms may persist into adulthood in approximately 15% to 65% of children with ADHD.”
Oral medications are the first choice of treatment for people with ADHD, which include stimulants such as amphetamines (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin), and non-stimulant like atomoxetine.
Other oral medicines used off-label include modafinil, armodafinil, venlafaxine, bupropion, and desipramine, but “the evidence for their use is limited to a few small controlled studies of short duration,” according to PT.
A study published in 2007 in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found that modafinil, when given over the course of 2 to 3 weeks, is effective in managing the symptoms of and the problem behaviors associated with ADHD in children and adolescents.
The study also found that the drug is generally well tolerated, with mild side effects such as headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and GI discomfort.
Modafinil may have advantages over current treatment for ADHD when given once daily and may have fewer reinforcing properties than conventional stimulants, according to Pub Med. This smart drug could potentially be a valuable treatment option for patients with ADHD.
However, researchers say rigorous comparative studies are needed before establishing the role of modafinil in the treatment of ADHD. Modafinil has recent placebo-controlled data supporting its efficacy in children with ADHD, according to Medscape. This medication may currently be used as a third- or fourth-line treatment.
