Modafinil for the Improvement of Patient Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Conclusion. Modafinil is a central nervous system stimulant with well-established effectiveness in the treatment of narcolepsy and shift-work sleep disorder. There is conflicting evidence about the benefits of modafinil in the treatment of fatigue and EDS secondary to TBI. One randomized, controlled study states that modafinil does not significantly improve patient wakefulness, while another concludes that modafinil corrects EDS but not fatigue. An observational study provides evidence that modafinil increases alertness in fatigued patients with past medical history of brainstem diencephalic stroke or multiple sclerosis. Modafinil appears to have the potential to improve wakefulness in patients with TBI. A prospective, double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial of modafinil for the management of fatigue in ischemic stroke patients is currently being conducted, and further studies demonstrating consistent results are needed before making a conclusive decision. Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, TBI, excessive daytime sleep, modafinil, fatigue, stroke, head injury Each year in the United States, as many as 1.7 million individuals are thought to experience some form of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)- inducing event.1,2 Falls appear to be the most common cause of head injury leading to TBI (28%).3 Other medical events can also result in TBI, such as stroke, automotive accidents, and neurologic degenerative diseases. Two of the most commonly reported complications following TBI a...
Source: Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Current Issue Review excessive daytime sleep fatigue head injury modafinil stroke TBI traumatic brain injury Source Type: research