The principal objective of this study was to determine whether prophylactic doses of Provigil would attenuate decrements in aviator performance and arousal throughout 2 days and 1 night without sleep.
Six pilots were exposed to two 40-h periods of continuous wakefulness. In one, three 200-mg doses of Provigil were given and in the other, matching placebos were administered. Helicopter simulator flights, resting EEGs, and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires were evaluated. RESULTS: Provigil attenuated sleep deprivation effects on four of six flight maneuvers, reduced slow-wave EEG activity, and lessened self-reported problems with mood and alertness in comparison to placebo.
The most noticeable benefits occurred between 0330 and 1130 hours, when the combined impact of sleep loss and the circadian trough was most severe.
The most frequently observed drug side effects were vertigo, nausea, and dizziness. These could have been related to: 1) the motion-based testing, 2) the use of a simulator rather than an actual aircraft (i.e., “simulator sickness”), and/or 3) the administration of more than 400 mg Provigil.
Provigil is a promising countermeasure for sleep loss in normals; however, additional studies aimed at reducing side effects are needed before it should be used in aviators.