'Smart drug' modafinil may not make you brainier

Conclusion Modafinil is reported to be frequently used outside of its licensed indication (treatment of narcolepsy) to enhance cognitive performance. This study has cast doubt upon these supposed effects. In this RCT, modafinil slowed responses while having no effect on the accuracy of performance on the Hayling Sentence Completion Test. The exact way modafinil promotes wakefulness is not fully understood. The Hayling Sentence Completion Test is only one measure of cognitive function, and it may be that modafinil has different effects on the performance of different tests. For example, modafinil has been a way to aid concentration and avoid distraction while studying. As one student website put it: “it’s a big boost to lazy people to force themselves to work”. However, most importantly, modafinil is a prescription-only medication that is licensed only for the treatment of narcolepsy. The drug is not without side effects; it has been associated with a risk of serious adverse effects, including psychiatric disorders and skin reactions, as well as reducing the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. This study has only assessed the one-off use of this drug in a relatively small sample of people. The study has not looked at safety outcomes, and we don’t know what adverse effects there might be for healthy individuals regularly taking this drug solely for the purpose of trying to enhance cognitive performance. The European Medicines Agency has concluded that the benefits...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Neurology Source Type: news