Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
04/09/2018 10:10 am
Efficacy of modafinil compared to dextroamphetamine for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults
by
Taylor FB, Russo J.
Rainier Associates,
Tacoma, Washington 98467, USA.
[email protected]
J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2000 Winter; 10(4):311-20
ABSTRACT
Our objective was to compare the efficacy of the new wake-promoting drug modafinil to that of dextroamphetamine for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Twenty-two adults who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-phase crossover study comparing placebo, modafinil, and dextroamphetamine for the treatment of ADHD. The twice-daily study medications were titrated to doses of optimum efficacy over 4-7 days and then held constant during the rest of each 2-week treatment phase. Measures of improvement included the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults, the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT, using the letters C, F, and L version), Stroop, and Digit Span (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale version). For the 21 (96%) completers, the mean (+/- SD) optimum doses of modafinil and dextroamphetamine were 206.8 mg/day +/- 84.9 and 21.8 mg/day +/- 8.9, respectively. Scores on the DSM-IV ADHD Checklist (p < 0.001) were significantly improved over the placebo condition following treatment with both active medications. Performance on the COWAT (p < 0.05) reached trend levels of significance. Both medications were generally well tolerated. This preliminary study suggests that modafinil may be a viable alternative to conventional stimulants for the treatment of adults with ADHD.
04/09/2018 10:54 am
Go cephalon!
04/09/2018 11:44 am
this is an encouraging study. However, this is not the kind of study that really enlightens us about the mechanisms of either medication and how these may actually may be treated differentially by the two medications. I have, for a long time, suspected that adhd is not a singular disorder and that the various medications considered as appropriate may be more or less effective depending upon type. I'd like to see FDA approval for the use of provigil for ADHD. It's getting alot of off-label use for ADHD now. It get used for "ideopathic narcolepsy".
And we'll collect the moments one by one. I guess that's how the future's done. Feist, "Mushaboom", 2005
Topic starter
04/09/2018 12:04 pm
I think that it is well documented (so far) that dex amphetamine is more toxic than modafinil. Dex amph seems to have more peripheral effects so could that mean that modafinil has, in some cases, start to home in on the chemical aspect of ADHD?
I agree that ADHD is far more than a singular disorder. I am thinking that enhanced polarity response in some way has alot more to do with ADHD than chemical imbalance. I also think that alot more could be done with diet than has yet been popularised.
I am of course speculating and hold no qualifications in the area of psychopharmicology or psychothereapy just a layman with an avid interest and enthusiasm.