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Modafinil Reduces Sleepiness In Parkinson's Disease

Modafinil reduces daytime sleepiness in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Dr B Högl and colleagues of the Department of Neurology and Department of Biostatistics University of Innsbruck, Austria, conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study with two 2-week treatment blocks, separated by a 2-week washout phase. The patients received placebo or modafinil (100 mg in the first week, 200 mg in the second week) as a single morning dose in a randomized cross-over order.

Twelve patients completed the study out of the 15 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and daytime sleepiness that were entered into the study. All patients had an Epworth sleepiness score of at least 10.

Twelve patients completed the study (nine males, three females; mean age 65 years; mean disease duration 6.8 years). The Epworth scores were significantly improved with treatment with modafinil compared with placebo. However, latency to sleep in the test of "maintenance of wakefulness" was not significantly altered by modafinil treatment.

The researchers concluded, "The results of this study suggest that modafinil improves daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease patients, at least on a subjective or behavioural level."
Sleep, 2002;25(8) 905-909. "Modafinil for the Treatment of Daytime Sleepiness in Parkinson´s Disease: A Double-blind, Randomized, Crossover, Placebo-controlled Polygraphic Trial"

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