Provigil in our society
There has been an increase in number of accidents, caused by sleepiness, in oppose to alcohol and the drugs. There has also been an increase in industrial accidents, especially where the night or shift work is common.
We as a society has moved in to a 24 hour cycle, sometimes confused when we need to sleep and have rest. We experience a lot of pressure to stay awake for longer hours, or to do longer shifts.
There have been a number of research done, which have shown that people doing night shifts, have difficulty to fall asleep during day time, theit performance is reduced and they find difficult to stay focused and alerted when it’s needed. They also have a higher accident rate, comparing to people doing nine to five jobs.
Another issue is the general health. The shift workers are more likely to develop such diseases as sleep disorders of all kind, risks of having cardiovascular disease, diabetes and others.
In addition to that the accidents caused by sleepiness cost the economy a lot of money.
Narcolepsy. Symptoms.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy and less often by hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis.
While patients report excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy as the more frequent symptoms of this condition, excessive daytime sleepiness is generally believed to be the most debilitating.
Narcolepsy often is undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for a variety of reasons. Although confirmation of an initial diagnosis requires monitoring of physiologic variables conducted at a sleep center by specialists, the primary care physician has a critical role in the identification and management of this incurable affliction.
Does Provigil activate the locus coeruleus in man?
Provigil is a wakefulness-promoting drug which is likely to activate some wakefulness-promoting and/or inhibit sleep-promoting neurones in the brain. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a wakefulness-promoting noradrenergic nucleus whose activity can be “switched off” by the a2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, leading to sedative and sympatholytic effects.
The aim of the study is to compare the effects of single doses of Provigil and clonidine on arousal and autonomic functions in human volunteers.
Warnings with Provigil
Before starting Provigil, warnings and precautions for the drug should be discussed with your healthcare provider to ensure safe treatment. Provigil may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions (like heart problems or high blood pressure), so tell your healthcare provider about all existing conditions before taking Provigil.
Warnings and precautions also extend to people who are allergic to any components of the medication.
Provigil: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Provigil® (modafinil) if you have: